Greek law enforcement authorities have seized more than 100 banana containers at the Port of Piraeus, after locating more than 120 kg of pure cocaine on a ship arriving from Ecuador.
This is part of an investigation initiated in early August by Greek police officers, customs officials and Port Authorities, which has resulted in four arrests so far, Greek media report.
The Greek authorities were informed about the arrival of a large cargo consignment in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece’s second major city.
On 2 August, they started their operation in Thessaloniki, but decided to let the cargo in Piraeus arrive unhindered as part of the investigation, local media reported.
A few days later, on August 13, another 24kg of cocaine was found in another container, followed by 100 at the port of Piraeus.
The large operation is ongoing at the port of Piraeus, as law enforcement agencies seek to determine who the recipients of the cargo are and whether the Latin American cartels have targeted Greece.
In early August, Greek authorities seized a 52-kg shipment of cocaine coming into the Port of Thessaloniki via container.
A recent report by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in June highlighted that cocaine enters Europe through numerous routes and means, but the growth in large-volume trafficking, using maritime shipping containers, stands out as a major challenge.
