Filenews 16 May 2023
With the involvement and assistance of YKAN, a criminal organization was dismantled in Thessaloniki, in cooperation with the Greek Police. 8 members of the organization were arrested, while among other things, more than 42 kilos of raw cannabis, a pistol and €27,000 were seized. The illegal financial benefit of the organization is estimated at at least €360,000.
The announcement of the Hellenic Police
The Athens Drug Enforcement Department of the Subdirectorate of Drug Enforcement of the Attica Security Directorate dismantled, following an operation that took place in Thessaloniki, a criminal organization that was active in importing into Greek territory significant quantities of raw cannabis, hydroponic cultivation (SKUNK), from European countries and exporting and further trafficking them to other countries.
For the case, 8 people, members of the organization, were arrested, of which 3 foreigners – 2 women and one man – as well as 5 national men, while a case was formed against them for – depending on the case – criminal organization, violation of drugs and weapons legislation and forgery.
As it emerged from the investigation, the members of the criminal organization in order to achieve the goal had distinct roles among themselves, with characteristic training and professional infrastructure in the safe transport of substances, in arranging their trips and places of residence, while at the same time they used special precautions ensuring their uninterrupted criminal activity and the reaping of great illegal financial gain.
In fact, in order to dismantle the organization, cooperation was developed with the Cyprus Anti-Drugs Service and in the context of a thorough preliminary investigation (verifications and cross-checks of evidence, use of special investigative techniques, profiling), their criminal activity was certified, while the role of each member of the ring was ascertained.
More specifically:
A 38-year-old woman, as leader of the criminal organization, was responsible for finding quantities of raw cannabis, which were imported by air to our country from Europe in luggage, while she undertook the full guidance of the other members of the organization, so that these quantities could be exported to other European and non-European countries.
A 42-year-old man, as deputy leader of the criminal organization, had full knowledge of its operations while actively participating in its management,
A 32-year-old man transported the quantities of raw cannabis and was tasked with finding, recruiting and guiding new members of the group as transporters;
A 54-year-old woman was sourcing and importing quantities of cannabis from European countries, while both she and a 36-year-old man ensured the transport of raw cannabis to foreign countries.
19-year-old and 21-year-old transported the quantities of raw cannabis to foreign countries,
A 31-year-old man issued air and road tickets, while he undertook the finding and leasing of accommodation for the accommodation of the members-carriers of the organization.
In order to dismantle the criminal organization, a police operation was carried out at noon and afternoon yesterday, Sunday, May 14, 2023, during the development of which, at Thessaloniki International Airport, the 19-year-old and the 21-year-old were seized to possess for the purpose of transporting to Cyprus two pieces of luggage, with 36 -carefully hidden- nylon packages, which contained more than 42.5 kilos of raw hydroponic cultivated cannabis (SKUNK).
The 54-year-old had imported the quantities by air, which she then handed over to the 32-year-old and he in turn to the 19-year-old and 21-year-old. From the further development of the operation in areas of Thessaloniki, the remaining members of the criminal organization were identified and arrested.
In searches carried out at homes, vehicles and in the possession of those arrested, in total, the following were found and seized:
raw hemp (SKUNK) weighing -42- kg and -560- grams,
pistol, 2 magazines and 18 rounds of ammunition,
false identity card,
the sum of €27 000,
2 private cars and motorcycles,
13 mobile devices,
3 mobile connection packages,
SIM card stub, banknote counter and wrapping roll.
The illegal financial gain gained by the criminal organization from its activities is estimated to amount to at least -€360,000.
Those arrested, with the case file formed against them, are taken to the competent Public Prosecutor's Office.
