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About 1,133.420 kilos of heroin (as well as other narcotics) were confiscated by Greek authorities in a huge drug bust that took place in the early hours of Friday morning. The operation, which took place in the region of Attica, involved the join action of the Coast Guard, the Hellenic Police’s Drug Enforcement department, the American DEA and the Narcotics and Weapons Division of SDOE (Financial Crimes Unit). Some 11 people have been arrested (five Turkish nationals and six Greek) including a Greek shipowner who appears to have had played a key role in the trafficking operation.
According to initial reports, authorities apparently raided a warehouse in the area of Koropi -on the outskirts of Athens- and at luxury Athens homes of several alleged members of the drug smuggling gang.
Citing its own sources, the Kathimerini newspaper said in a report that one of the locations was the villa in the upscale neighborhood of Filothei -north of Athens- that is owned by the ex-wife of a Greek businessman and shipowner who was also arrested during the raid, along with their 15 year old son. The shipowner has previously declared owning four Dubai based tankers although his claims are still under investigation by authorities.
What is even more shocking is the fact that almost 500 kilos of heroin were found at the Filothei villa, while a similar amount was uncovered at the Koropi warehouse.
In total 1 tonne and 113 kilograms of heroin were confiscated making it the largest drug bust ever made in Greece, and one of the largest ever made at a European level. (Specifically authorities seized a total of 443 plastic packages of heroin, with a total gross weight of one tonne and 133 kg.)
The narcotics were said to be pure and had a value of more than 30 million euros, while the street value was reported to have yielded more than 200 million euros.
During the operation, authorities also seized six luxury cars that were allegedly used to traffic the drugs, as well as 5.1 grams of cocaine, one pistol loaded with 9 rounds and 6,235 euros in cash.
The reports in the Greek press claim that the heroin was shipped to Greece from Iran via Turkey and it is suspected that it was then going to be trafficked to Belgium and Germany. (Apparently the ring had set up several moving companies in Belgium and Turkey as fronts so that they can easily transport the drugs to these countries without raising suspicion.)
Kathimerini also said that various suspects were spotted by undercover investigators on Thursday night transporting drugs from the Filothei villa to the Koropi warehouse. It was also noted that the drug ring was based in Constantinople and led by a Turkish national that was living in Athens for the past few days. Interestingly, the report in Kathimerini also said that authorities fear that 2-3 tonnes of heroin were transported regularly from Iran through Turkey and into Western Europe.
The operation was a success because the suspects were under close observation for six months, but several members were charged with misdemeanors after being arrested for smuggling smaller amounts of narcotics between Greece and Albania. This was apparently done so that authorities could continue operating.
Minister of Shipping Miltiadis Varvitsiotis congratulated the officers who participated in the operation and welcomed the support the Coast Guard received from the Hellenic Police and the American agency.
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| credit protothema |
According to initial reports, authorities apparently raided a warehouse in the area of Koropi -on the outskirts of Athens- and at luxury Athens homes of several alleged members of the drug smuggling gang.
Citing its own sources, the Kathimerini newspaper said in a report that one of the locations was the villa in the upscale neighborhood of Filothei -north of Athens- that is owned by the ex-wife of a Greek businessman and shipowner who was also arrested during the raid, along with their 15 year old son. The shipowner has previously declared owning four Dubai based tankers although his claims are still under investigation by authorities.
What is even more shocking is the fact that almost 500 kilos of heroin were found at the Filothei villa, while a similar amount was uncovered at the Koropi warehouse.
In total 1 tonne and 113 kilograms of heroin were confiscated making it the largest drug bust ever made in Greece, and one of the largest ever made at a European level. (Specifically authorities seized a total of 443 plastic packages of heroin, with a total gross weight of one tonne and 133 kg.)
The narcotics were said to be pure and had a value of more than 30 million euros, while the street value was reported to have yielded more than 200 million euros.
During the operation, authorities also seized six luxury cars that were allegedly used to traffic the drugs, as well as 5.1 grams of cocaine, one pistol loaded with 9 rounds and 6,235 euros in cash.
The reports in the Greek press claim that the heroin was shipped to Greece from Iran via Turkey and it is suspected that it was then going to be trafficked to Belgium and Germany. (Apparently the ring had set up several moving companies in Belgium and Turkey as fronts so that they can easily transport the drugs to these countries without raising suspicion.)
Kathimerini also said that various suspects were spotted by undercover investigators on Thursday night transporting drugs from the Filothei villa to the Koropi warehouse. It was also noted that the drug ring was based in Constantinople and led by a Turkish national that was living in Athens for the past few days. Interestingly, the report in Kathimerini also said that authorities fear that 2-3 tonnes of heroin were transported regularly from Iran through Turkey and into Western Europe.
The operation was a success because the suspects were under close observation for six months, but several members were charged with misdemeanors after being arrested for smuggling smaller amounts of narcotics between Greece and Albania. This was apparently done so that authorities could continue operating.
Minister of Shipping Miltiadis Varvitsiotis congratulated the officers who participated in the operation and welcomed the support the Coast Guard received from the Hellenic Police and the American agency.
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