84 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside roses
Greek authorities have uncovered a suspected drug trafficking network that allegedly smuggled cocaine from Colombia concealed inside artificial flower stems, the Independent Authority for Public Revenue said.
Cocaine shipment seized
The DEOS enforcement team of the tax authority, acting on information from Greece and abroad, identified a shipment of 80 boxes of roses that had left Bogotá and arrived at a flower shop in Artemida, eastern Attica.
With the assistance of a sniffer dog, inspectors found that roses in 15 of the boxes had artificial stems containing cocaine.
Four people were arrested at the flower shop as they were allegedly preparing to collect the cocaine and package it at a specially equipped location in Marathon.
Laboratory and weapon found
With the assistance of Greece’s special police forces and the Economic and Financial Crime Directorate, authorities searched a property in Marathon.
A foreign national and his son were arrested at the site. Authorities said the man is also wanted or accused in connection with a homicide case.
The search uncovered another 2 kilograms of cocaine, a facility allegedly used to process the drug and a firearm buried in the property’s yard.
Two suspects still sought
The total amount of cocaine seized reached 84 kilograms. Authorities also confiscated a luxury vehicle.
Police are continuing to search for two additional suspects, a man and a woman who is listed as the manager of the flower shop.
A case file has been prepared and will be submitted to the competent prosecutor.
Source:ERT
