A 21-year-old Romanian national arrested in Athens yesterday in possession of more than 5 kilos of cocaine is believed to be a central link in an international ring bringing drugs into the country from Costa Rica, police said.

The suspect was stopped at a post office in Patissia after picking up a package filled with cereal boxes which, it transpired, concealed 4.6 kilos of cocaine. A search of the man’s house unearthed another kilo of the drug. Officers also seized three personal identification cards, all bearing different details. The cards are believed to have been given to him by another Romanian, the suspected ring leader, who eluded arrest.

Police also arrested a 45-year-old Greek after finding on him a pair of scales and wire transfers to Costa Rica accounting for 15,000 euros.