Major Drug Bust: Greek Authorities Uncover 800 Kg of Cocaine Concealed in Leather Goods, Leading to 11 Arrests

Greek law enforcement has recently dismantled a complex international drug trafficking operation that was transporting significant quantities of cocaine concealed within leather sheets sourced from Bolivia, as reported by Reuters.

The process involved treating the leather with salt and infusing it with cocaine before shipping it to Greece via container ships. Once the shipment arrived, the gang had set up a lab in Pikermi, a suburb of Athens, where they extracted and prepared the narcotics for distribution. Authorities conducted a raid on this facility, gathering evidence and apprehending suspects right at the scene.

This investigation kicked off several months ago following an alert from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Greek police kept a close watch on this group until they were ready to intervene.So far, eleven individuals have been taken into custody; among them are nationals from both Bolivia and Spain. Notably, at least one suspect is believed to have had insight into their smuggling techniques.

During their operation, law enforcement seized 300 packages containing a blend of salt and cocaine. The total amount of cocaine discovered in the lab exceeded 800 kilograms (about 1,764 pounds), highlighting just how extensive this network was.

The arrested individuals are slated to face charges before a prosecutor soon. Police noted that this innovative smuggling technique indicates that traffickers are evolving their strategies for moving cocaine from South America into Europe—finding more discreet methods along the way.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t an isolated incident; just last May, authorities uncovered another trafficking ring that was importing clothing soaked in liquid cocaine from Ecuador. This trend suggests that drug smugglers are increasingly creative in hiding illicit substances within everyday items like garments or fabrics—a tactic that’s becoming alarmingly common across various regions globally.