An Athens court heard yesterday that police had been on the trail of Alexandros Angelopoulos since 1999, on the first day of a trial involving one of the country’s most prominent alleged drug dealers.

Angelopoulos, aged 40, has been charged in connection with a drug bust in July last year aboard a Belize-flagged trawler off the coast of Spain which uncovered a haul of 5.4 tons of cocaine.

Angelopoulos, also known by the nickname Fat Man, is suspected of being in charge of the drug run.

Maria Poga, a witness from the now-defunct Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE), described to the court how Angelopoulos used a network of boats to transport drugs, with the same crew members.

Along with Angelopoulos, five other people are also being tried. The trial is to continue on Monday.