Cocaine Worth €5.5 Million Seized in Thessaloniki Port – Major Drug Trafficking Ring Dismantled

A major international drug trafficking operation was dismantled by Greek authorities following the seizure of over 271 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a shipping container arriving from Latin America. The operation was carried out with the cooperation of the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which provided crucial intelligence leading to the discovery.

The container was intercepted at the Port of Thessaloniki during a large-scale joint operation conducted on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the Northern Greece Organized Crime Division, the Customs Anti-Smuggling Unit, and the Intelligence and Special Operations Sub-Directorate.

During the inspection, authorities discovered a specially modified hidden compartment within the container, which held 271.15 kilograms of cocaine. The street value of the drugs is estimated to exceed €5.5 million.

Following the discovery, an undercover controlled delivery operation was launched on Saturday, August 9, in the area of Aspropyrgos, Attica, under judicial authorization. As a result, three members of the trafficking ring were arrested:

• A 47-year-old man responsible for liaising with the ring’s leadership and coordinating the retrieval of the drugs,
• A 32-year-old man tasked with extracting and distributing the cocaine,
• A 40-year-old logistics company owner, who provided storage and equipment to facilitate the drug extraction process.

Items seized during the operation included:

• 271.15 kilograms of cocaine,
• The shipping container,
• 2 vehicles,
• €655 in cash,
• 4 mobile phones,
• Various tools and heavy equipment used in the logistics operation (crane, grinder, welding equipment, etc.).

The total illicit profit from the sale of the seized cocaine is estimated to exceed €5.5 million. The arrested individuals have been referred to the competent prosecuting authority, while investigations continue to trace the full network behind the operation.

Source: pagenews.gr