32 kg of marijuana seized at Athens Airport, Albanian arrested

Four citizens, three Greeks aged 27, 35 and 21 and a 19-year-old Albanian, members of an international criminal group, who were active in importing raw hydroponic marijuana (skunk) into Greek territory, were arrested by police officers of the Narcotics Sub-Directorate of the Directorate for Measures Against Organized Crime in Greece.

As part of the targeted controls by the aforementioned service, to prevent the importation of narcotics into Greece via air routes, after verifications, cross-checks, data analysis and the creation of a "profile", the criminal activity of those involved was certified.

More specifically, the 27-year-old Greek man coming from Thailand was found by police officers from the airport's Narcotics Department in the arrivals area, where he was caught possessing, in two suitcases, on behalf of his three co-defendants and with the intention of further trafficking, 60 packages containing raw hydroponic marijuana (skunk), with a total gross weight of 32 kilograms, which the 35-year-old would then take to deliver by taxi to the final recipients.

To ensure the smooth transportation of the drugs, the 21-year-old and 19-year-old monitored the area around the airport, while accompanying the taxi with another vehicle along the way, Topchannel writes.

At the same time, in the arrivals area, the 35-year-old was caught in possession, for the purpose of trafficking, of three improvised packages containing cocaine, with a total gross weight of 2.15 grams. House searches followed, from which two improvised packages containing 50.3 grams of cannabis, one improvised package containing cocaine, with a total gross weight of 30 grams, and a police identity card, which was suspected to be forged, were found and confiscated.

In addition, taxis and private cars, 5 mobile phones, 2 suitcases and the amount of 245 euros were found and confiscated.

It is noted that three of the four defendants have previously been in police custody for similar and other criminal offenses, while one of them is under coercive measures. The arrested persons were accompanied to the competent prosecutor's office.