Police officers from the Narcotics Prosecution Sub-Directorate of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime proceeded to arrest four members of a transnational criminal organization, who are involved in the case of transporting a large quantity of cocaine via container from Latin America to Greece, specifically in the port of Thessaloniki.
They are 4 foreigners, aged 32, 34, 36 and 44 years old, while the case file that was formed also includes additional unidentified persons, members of the multinational ring.
Prior cooperation with the DEA Office of the US Embassy. of Athens, as well as the Narcotics Prosecution Department of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of Northern Greece, in the context of which the action of a transnational ring importing large quantities of cocaine from Latin America to European countries, including our country, was demonstrated.
From the subsequent investigation, verification and cross-checking of data, profiling of those involved (profiling) and development at the operational level of special investigative techniques, the structure of the criminal organization, its transnational nature and the criminal activity of its members were ascertained.
In particular, as it emerged, at least from the beginning of November 2024, the defendants had formed and joined a criminal organization, transnational in nature, which was active in the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs (cocaine) from Latin America to the European market, with the aim of obtaining illegal profits.
To achieve their goal, members of the criminal organization used the sea route, concealing cocaine shipments in refrigerated containers, which were carrying legal goods.
Furthermore, it emerged that the members of the criminal organization arrested in our country operated with a hierarchical structure and distinct roles as follows:
The 32-year-old had undertaken the contacts for finding and recruiting partners in Greece to receive the drugs in Thessaloniki and for their further trafficking and the 34-year-old, 36-year-old and 44-year-old were responsible for the further trafficking of the drugs to countries in Europe, including of our country.
In the morning hours of 13/12/2024, the members of the organization imported, for the purpose of trafficking in Greek territory, a quantity of cocaine, with a total gross weight of 45 kilograms and 958 grams, which they had concealed inside the refrigeration mechanism of a container with legal goods of bananas.
A police operation followed, during which the 14-year-old man was arrested at midday on Saturday (12/2024/32) at Thessaloniki Airport in his attempt to leave the country, while the others were arrested at midday on Sunday, 15 December 2024, in the area of Thessaloniki , during the process of delivering narcotics.
In total, from the searches carried out in the area of the Port of Thessaloniki and in a house, the following were found and confiscated:
cocaine weighing 45 kilograms and 993 grams,
1.450 euros and 658 dollars,
4 mobile devices and
tracking and locating mechanisms (GPS) and power bank (POWERBANK) solar panel.
The arrested were taken to the competent prosecutor's office, while the investigation in cooperation with the corresponding authorities of other countries continues.
Source: eleutherostypos
