A police operation led to the discovery and seizure of 271 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated value of over 5.5 million euros, hidden inside a container at the Port of Thessaloniki.
The shipment originated from Latin America and was destined for Aspropyrgos, Greece.
The operation followed information received from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which was passed on to Greek authorities. Subsequently, the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, in cooperation with other police and customs units, conducted an in-depth investigation.
On August 6, 2025, the container was identified and monitored by Greek authorities in a “controlled delivery” operation, allowing the shipment to reach its destination in Aspropyrgos, where three members of the criminal organization were arrested.
During the inspection, a modified compartment was found inside the container, concealing 271.150 kilograms of cocaine, which was seized.
The arrested individuals are:
A 47-year-old man responsible for coordinating operations and communicating with the main members of the network.
A 32-year-old man involved in distributing the cocaine to other members.
A 40-year-old owner of a transport company, who provided vehicles and premises for hiding and distributing the drugs.
One of the arrested individuals refused to undergo a search and was detained for disobedience. A small quantity of cocaine was found during the search of his residence.
According to authorities, the organization had a professional structure and well-organized transnational activities, with clearly defined roles, trafficking cocaine from Latin America to Greece for significant financial gain.
During the operation, the following were seized:
271 kg of cocaine
1 container
2 vehicles
655 euros
4 mobile phones
Equipment from the transport company (crane, welding machine, work tools, etc.)
Investigations continue to identify other members of the criminal network in Greece and Latin America, including the organization’s leaders.
