The 4th regular investigator of Thessaloniki apologized today to the ten arrested for the 105 kg cocaine load that was revealed last week by the Thessaloniki Narcotics Prosecution, after cooperation with the American Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Prosecuting Authorities of North Macedonia.

Among those arrested accused of being members of an international cocaine-trafficking ring is its alleged ringleader, a 68-year-old doctor known for past cigarette and fuel smuggling cases in the Balkans. The criminal prosecution brought against them concerns the acts of directing, forming and joining a criminal organization and the particularly distinguished case of drug trafficking, by profession.

The Narcotics Prosecution seems to have been monitoring the movements of the ring for three years. The countdown to the arrests of its members began last Monday afternoon, when, after an episodic pursuit, a 34-year-old driver was arrested, who transported six travel bags containing 64 parcels, with a total of 105 kg of cocaine, in his car. Following his movements, police found that he had received the narcotic substance – “mammoth” from a warehouse in Agios Athanasios, Thessaloniki.

According to EL.AS announcements, the illegal cargo had arrived on the last 10 days of April at the port of Thessaloniki, inside a container with bananas and the country of origin was Ecuador. It was then transported by truck to the warehouse where it was removed from inside the containers. Information indicates that the cocaine was well hidden on the girders of the containers and was to be trafficked both in Greece and in other European countries.

As it became known, the circuit would make profits estimated at at least 2.1 million euros, while it is estimated that benefits of 8 to 11 million euros would arise from further trafficking.

From EL.AS. it was also announced that almost at the same time as the police operation in Thessaloniki, four people were arrested in North Macedonia, including the alleged owner of a “storefront” company, based in the neighboring country, who had placed the order for the containers with the legal product.