Authorities at the port of Piraeus (Greece) have seized a massive haul of cocaine worth approximately $1.1 million (€1 million), concealed within a shipment of bananas originating from Ecuador. The operation led to the arrest of two port employees, aged 47 and 27, who were allegedly involved in facilitating the smuggling operation.
The Discovery
The seizure included 22 plastic packages containing cocaine, with a total weight of 57 pounds (26 kilograms). The drugs were hidden inside a container of bananas at the port, raising suspicion due to intelligence gathered in an international investigation.
Coordinated Effort
The bust was a result of a collaborative investigation involving Greece’s Coast Guard, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office in Athens, and the customs authority at Piraeus Port. Additionally, the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Unit and the Anti-Narcotics and Arms Department in Athens contributed to the operation.
Smuggling Details
Investigators revealed that between November 4 and November 11, 2024, members of a criminal organization concealed the cocaine in a shipping container in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The shipment was intended to reach Greece undetected.
On November 28, members of the organization removed part of the drug shipment and handed it to the 47-year-old suspect. Using his access and a vehicle provided by the port facility, he transported the cocaine outside the port area to its intended recipients. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old suspect allegedly manipulated the port’s container management system to reposition the container, allowing the drugs to be accessed without drawing attention.
Additional Evidence
Searches conducted at the suspects’ homes and vehicles uncovered significant evidence, including:
- Four mobile phones
- $3,500 (€3,250) in cash
- Two USB sticks
- A laptop
- An external hard drive
- Two vehicle license plates
- An unused container seal stamp
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities continue to investigate the criminal organization behind the operation, aiming to locate additional members and unravel their network.
The successful operation highlights the critical role of international cooperation in combatting drug trafficking, as well as the sophisticated methods used by smugglers to evade detection.
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