They were sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional fine of 500,000 euros each. four British who were arrested in June 2022, at Thessalonikifor the cargo of 300 kilos of cocaine seized by Drug Prosecution in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The Three-member Criminal Appeal Court of Thessaloniki found them guilty of criminal organization, as well as a distinguished case of drug possession and trafficking. The same court acquitted the 5th defendant – also a British citizen – who had been arrested on a European warrant in the Netherlands. He himself was imprisoned in the prisons of Amsterdam but was later released, with the Dutch judicial authorities not agreeing to Greece’s request to extradite him.

According to the case file, the illegal cargo had been imported, through the port of Thessaloniki, in a container carrying a legal cargo of bananas from Colombia. The British had set up their “headquarters” in a rented luxury mansion in Kato Scholari, Thessaloniki, from where they intended to transport the cocaine to Central and Northern Europe as well as Australia.

The specific circuit, according to a witness officer of the Hellenic Police, appears to be connected to another large load of cocaine (654 kg), which was seized during a routine check at the port of Calabria, in Italy, and was destined for Thessaloniki.