Greece: Heroin Smuggling Ring Busted

Published: 04 July 2013

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Greek police announced Tuesday they had busted a drug trafficking ring attempting to transport over 23 kilos of pure heroin. Six people were arrested, the Athenian daily Kathimerini reported Tuesday.

Police arrested two Greeks ages 53 and 43, and four Albanians aged 27, 26, 25, and 30 in simultaneous operations in Karditsa, central Greece, and the northern cities of Kavala and Thessaloniki. Greek authorities said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informed them of the drug transfer, the Albanian Top Channel reported.

The two Greeks were planning to hand over the heroin to the Albanians, who were waiting in special luxury cars fitted with drug compartments. The Albanians would then deliver the drugs to Italy.

The suspects and their belongings are in court custody where they will remain until the conclusion of the investigation.

Albanian immigrants in Greece have long been working with their Greek counterparts to dominate the drug trafficking trade in the region.