ELAS, in Thessaloniki, carried out a major operation, succeeding in dismantling a five-member criminal organization that produced, trafficked and traded drugs.

At the end of the operation, the police announced that more than 43 kg and 6 liters of synthetic drugs, 2 firearms, a gas canister, 3 cryptocurrency electronic wallets and 126,000 euros were found

The case was handled by the Directorate of Security of Thessaloniki, in cooperation with the Police Authorities of Lithuania, the assistance of EUROPOL, the Athens DEA office and employees of the X.Y. Central Macedonia and Athens.

According to what ELAS announced: After a large, coordinated and well-organized operation in Thessaloniki (14-15/09-2023), the Greek police proceeded to dismantle a five-member criminal organization of drug production, trafficking and trading.

Five members were the criminal organization that was dismantled by ELAS.

Police officers of the General Affairs Department of the Thessaloniki Narcotics Prosecution Sub-Directorate proceeded to arrest the five men (29, 35, 58, 39-year-old citizens – the first two had recommended as co-directors of the organization – and a 28-year-old foreigner) and seized more than 43 kilos and 6 liters of synthetic cannabis (new type NPS), which they found in a makeshift synthetic drug production laboratory. At the same time, an auxiliary area was located in the area of ​​Triandria, where the raw materials for the production were stored and kept.

The 5-member criminal organization that was dismantled operated as follows:

  1. Production of synthetic drugs in a makeshift, fully equipped laboratory
  2. International order network, through a special platform, handling in Europe and America with postal parcels, through courier companies, and writing delivery notes with false sender information
  3. Settlement of orders, through an encrypted message exchange application, and financial transaction using electronic wallets – cryptocurrencies.
  4. The investigations into the case were handled by the Directorate of Security of Thessaloniki, in cooperation with the Police Authorities of Lithuania, the assistance of EUROPOL, the Athens DEA office and employees of the X.Y. Central Macedonia and Athens.

A criminal case was filed against those involved, for -as the case may be- the offenses of founding and participating in a criminal organization, in combination with violations of the legislation on drugs, weapons and the prevention and suppression of money laundering.

What was found during the operation
In detail, in searches of houses, vehicles, the improvised workshop and the above-mentioned auxiliary space, the following were found and confiscated:

  • 43 kg and 254 grams of synthetic cannabis in solid form (NPS)
  • 6 liters and 28 ml of liquid synthetic cannabis (NPS)
  • About 2 kilos of processed cannabis in chocolate form
  • 92.2 grams of raw cannabis
  • 17 tablets that fall under the provisions of the legislation on addictive substances
  • 2 firearms-pistols
  • Click-gas gun
  • Cartridges
  • Non-volatile click-gas cartridges
  • 3 cryptocurrency e-wallets
  • 11 mobile phones they used for their meetings
  • Objects and equipment of a synthetic drug production laboratory and 126,220 euros.

Also seized were five (5) I.X.E. cars and three (3) two-wheelers used by the members of the organization for their movements, but also for the trafficking of psychotropic substances.

It is noted that, during the last two months, eight (8) postal parcels containing synthetic narcotic substances, originating from the city of Thessaloniki, were seized by the Lithuanian Police Authorities, while at the same time fifteen ( 15) recipients.

Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full scope of the criminal organization’s illegal activities and any connections it may have with other similar networks.

Those arrested will be taken to the competent Prosecutor with the case file they filed against the police officers of the General Affairs Department of the Thessaloniki Narcotics Prosecution Sub-Directorate.

The Greek Police continues unabated and systematic its multifaceted action to detect and dismantle criminal organizations and drug trafficking and trafficking rings.