Authorities seize over one tonne of cocaine on Greek-owned vessel
Authorities have seized a large shipment of cocaine—estimated by police to exceed one tonne—aboard a Greek-owned vessel, Kathimerini has learned.
The investigation was conducted by Greece’s Narcotics Division in cooperation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to sources, the vessel departed from the port of Nea Michaniona, near Thessaloniki in northern Greece, and is believed to have taken on a substantial quantity of narcotics in Latin America before sailing toward Europe. The final destination of the shipment has not yet been determined.
Five people have been arrested in Greece, in the cities of Katerini, Thiva, and Athens. An additional five individuals who were on board the vessel have also been taken into custody. The alleged ringleader of the operation—reportedly the owner of the vessel—is said to be well known to Greek authorities.
As part of the operation, the French Navy has been towing the ship from the Atlantic Ocean for the past two days. The vessel is expected to arrive at the port of Piraeus, where the seized drugs will be officially counted and the five detainees on board handed over to Greek authorities.
No further details about the operation have been released at this stage.
Kathimerini
