Greek Coast Guard busts international cocaine trafficking network linked to 5,040 kg seizure
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, officers from the Directorate for Combating Drugs and Smuggling (DIDINAL) carried out the operation on January 27, 2026, targeting locations in Attica and Dedeağaç. The suspects, aged 52, 56, 57, and 59, are believed to be key members of a transnational criminal organization involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking.
Investigation Launched in 2023 with U.S. Cooperation
The investigation dates back to 2023, following intelligence provided by the U.S. Embassy in Athens, specifically Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The intelligence concerned the discovery and seizure of 5.04 metric tons of cocaine at the Port of Guayaquil, Ecuador, on August 9, 2023.
The cocaine was concealed inside a shipping container carrying a legitimate cargo of fishmeal. To evade detection, the narcotics had been chemically mixed in powdered form with the cargo, making identification during routine inspections extremely difficult.
Sophisticated Smuggling Method Reveals High-Level Organization
Greek authorities noted that extracting the cocaine from the fishmeal would have required complex chemical processing and advanced scientific expertise, highlighting the high level of organization, technical capability, and operational sophistication of the criminal network.
As part of the preliminary investigation, Greek prosecutors submitted a mutual legal assistance request to obtain the full case file and evidence collected abroad. The aim was to clarify the role of the recipient company in Greece and identify all individuals involved in managing and attempting to distribute the illicit shipment.
Tens of Millions of Euros in Expected Profits
Authorities estimate that the criminal organization stood to gain tens of millions of euros from the sale of the cocaine on the European black market.
The case underscores Greece’s growing role in international efforts to combat transnational organized crime and drug trafficking networks operating between Latin America and Europe.
