Two expatriates from Albania, 39 and 37 years old, as well as a Serbian citizen, 38 years old, were referred to trial, while a 34-year-old compatriot of the latter is wanted for the same case.
The three-member Criminal Court of Appeal imposed life imprisonment to two people arrested last January in Thessaloniki for 324kg of cocaine, one of the largest quantities seized by the city’s prosecuting authorities, with their value estimated at more than 30 million euros. Another man sat in the same court, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, as, unlike his two co-accused, the judges granted him mitigation.
Two expatriates from Albania, 39 and 37 years old, as well as a Serbian citizen, 38 years old, were referred to trial, while a 34-year-old compatriot of the latter is wanted for the same case.
The police operation was organized by the Thessaloniki Drug Prosecution, in collaboration with the American DEA, while information was preceded, according to which, the first two (according to the co-owners in a company that rents a hotel in Rhodes) would go from Athens to Thessaloniki for to receive a consignment of cocaine. According to the same information, the third, together with his 34-year-old compatriot, had arrived in Thessaloniki with the illegal cargo, where they rented an apartment, with a short-term lease, in the “Xyladika” area of ​​Vardari.
As described in the case file, at the time when in the parking lot of the building, a partial quantity of the confiscated drug was being transhipped, from a minibus to a car. The arrest of the three took place, while the fourth, who was watching from the rented apartment, managed to escape by jumping from the balcony.
“The consignment is considered to have come from Latin America,” the head of the Thessaloniki Drug Prosecution testified in court, costing tens of millions of euros.
“These quantities do not come to Greece to go for walks”, added the witness police officer and expressed his confidence that other people are involved in the case.
The first two defendants, who were sentenced to life in prison, in their apologies denied any connection to drugs. They themselves said that they “went up” to Northern Greece to buy some “machines” and “mattresses” for their hotel, while they named a person who – as they claimed – “set a trap” for them. “It ruined our lives,” they said.
In contrast to the above, the 38-year-old Serb, who was granted the mitigation of his previous legal life, accepted his involvement in the case.
“I confess to the crime, I admit that I am guilty. I was offered to go to Greece to do something illegal. I needed it because of debts. “I almost knew it was drugs, but I did not know either the amount or the type of substance,” he said in his apology.
He added that he lived in London and had a fake Croatian passport at the time of his arrest.
Following the verdict of the Court (found guilty among others for a distinguished case of possession and trafficking of drugs but also for a criminal gang) the three defendants returned to prison, while for the fourth defendant – wanted the case will be introduced (for criminal acts) if and when arrested.
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