A criminal organization whose members were active in trafficking was dismantled by the Police raw cannabis and cocaine in the wider area of Athens.
They were arrestedin the context of an organized police operation, with the assistance of police officers from the Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution and Investigation of Crimes of Western Attica, OPKE and Police dogs, on Friday morning in Megara and Agia Varvara, 45 years oldthe foreigner and 2 Greeks, aged 62 and 34 yearsn accused of violating the laws on addictive substances, on weapons, on the customs code and on the protection of personal data and accepting and disposing of the proceeds of crime.
The police officers of the Security Department of Agia Varvara they reached the tracks of the gang after exploiting information while after cross-referencing computer data and evidence, the defendants were identified and their criminal activity certified.
Specifically, according to ELAS, the 3 defendants had set up a space as a shoe store in the area of Agia Varvara, making crypt in masonrywhere the narcotics were hidden. There, by placing shoe box display shelves, they had hidden the cache in order not to be noticed in any control by police forces.
In total, in searches of 3 houses and the specific store in the area of Agia Varvara, the following were found and confiscated:
• 1 kg and 867 grams. raw cannabis,
• 61.9 grams cocaine,
• carbine which had been reported stolen along with 25 cartridges,
• recorder with 2 cameras,
• the sums of 287 euros, 255 Turkish lira and 200 Albanian lek,
• 249 grams. contraband tobacco product,
• 2 scales,
• 9 mobile phones,
• frequency interleaving machine and
• car.
The arrested persons, with the case filed against them, were taken to the competent Prosecutor.
#cocaine #raw #cannabis #PHOTOS
**Interview with Police Chief Elena Markopoulos on Recent Drug Trafficking Bust in Athens**
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Chief Markopoulos. Thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us about the recent operation that led to the dismantling of the criminal organization involved in trafficking raw cannabis and cocaine in Athens?
**Chief Markopoulos:** Good morning, and thank you for having me. Yes, I can. Our operation took place last Friday morning in the areas of Megara and Agia Varvara. This was a coordinated effort involving multiple police units, including our Sub-Directorate for the Prosecution and Investigation of Crimes of Western Attica, OPKE, and even our trained police dogs.
**Interviewer:** What led your team to uncover this organization?
**Chief Markopoulos:** Our officers received credible information and were able to cross-reference computer data and evidence effectively. Through diligent investigative work, we traced the activities of the gang, which led to identifying and verifying the defendants’ criminal operations.
**Interviewer:** Can you tell us more about the suspects? What was their modus operandi?
**Chief Markopoulos:** Certainly. We arrested three individuals: a 45-year-old foreign national and two Greek nationals, aged 62 and 34. They were involved in serious crimes that violated laws concerning addictive substances, weapons, customs, and the protection of personal data. Interestingly, they operated out of what appeared to be a shoe store in Agia Varvara, which had a hidden space, or ”crypt,” in the masonry where they concealed the narcotics.
**Interviewer:** What does this bust say about drug trafficking in the region?
**Chief Markopoulos:** This operation underscores our commitment to combating drug trafficking and organized crime in Athens. It demonstrates that we are making significant strides toward disrupting these networks, which often have deep-rooted ties in our communities. We encourage the public to continue providing information to help us in these efforts.
**Interviewer:** What will happen to the suspects now that they have been arrested?
**Chief Markopoulos:** The suspects are currently in custody and will face serious charges in court. Our legal team is working diligently to compile the evidence necessary for prosecution, ensuring that justice is served.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Chief Markopoulos, for your insights and for the important work your department is doing.
**Chief Markopoulos:** Thank you for having me. We appreciate the support of the community as we continue our fight against crime.
