The Narcotics Prosecution Sub-Directorate of the Attica Security Directorate proceeded to dismantle a criminal organization that was active in the supply, storage, adulteration, standardization and further trafficking of narcotics in Santorini and mainly in night clubs on the island, during the summer months.

To end their criminal activity, a large-scale operation was planned and carried out on Monday morning (19/2) in the wider area of ​​the island, in the context of which four members of the ring, foreigners aged 26, 30, 36, were identified and arrested and 24 years old.

Charges were filed against the arrested members and a 30-year-old foreign member of the organization, who is incarcerated in a detention center, for forming and joining a criminal organization, violation of the legislation on addictive substances and, as the case may be, violation of the legislation on weapons and violence against employees.

According to ELAS, the criminal ring was hierarchically structured with a professional infrastructure and had drawn up a methodical and detailed plan of action, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of all stages of activity (supply, storage, counterfeiting, standardization and trafficking) to obtain the greatest possible profit.

The roles of the members of the organization were divided as follows:

-The 26-year-old was the leader of the organization, responsible for the full guidance of the other members, regarding the transportation of the drugs from Athens to Santorini, the standardization and storage of the quantities in hiding places on the island for their final distribution to nightclubs on the island or to other traffickers,

-The 30-year-old was the deputy leader, actively participating himself in the management and organization of the circuit with a focus on the management of its revenues and expected benefits,

-The 36-year-old assumed the responsibilities of the leader and deputy leader of the organization, when they were away in their country of origin,

– The 30-year-old was in charge of transporting the drugs from Athens to Santorini and

– The 24-year-old was responsible for finding the narcotics and for “recruiting” the transporters of the organization.

After the appropriate use of information, the creation of profiles of the involved members of the organization and the verification of the premises with which they were connected, targeted searches were carried out in a warehouse and in three houses, where they were found and seized:

*336 grams cocaine,

*2.043 grams raw cannabis,

*295 ECSTASY tablets,

*pistol,

*60 cartridges,

*knife,

*the sums of 24,890 euros, 9,050 Uruguayan pesos, 182 US dollars, 100 Australian dollars and 5 UK pounds,

*3 electronic scales,

*electronic air vacuum and drug formulation device,

*numerous nylon packs and

*7 vehicles as means of carrying out the criminal acts of the ring (two vans for transporting tourists, two ICHEs and two motorcycles).

As pointed out by the Police, some members were working in the transport of tourists through van-type vehicles and were taking advantage of this activity to look for customers.

From the consideration of all research data, it is estimated that the profits made by the organization exceed 102,000 euros.

The arrested were taken to the District Attorney of Naxos.