NEWS

Over 1 ton of heroin seized in joint Greek-US operation [Update]

Over 1 ton of heroin was seized and 11 people were arrested in Attica on Friday during a joint operation between Greece’s police and coast guard and the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

More than 1.13 tons of the drug were found wrapped in 443 plastic parcels in two warehouses, the first in Koropi in eastern Attica, and the second in the upmarket suburb of Filothei, north of Athens.

Six Greeks and five foreign nationals have been taken into custody over the course of the operation.

According to preliminary reports, among the Greeks arrested are a prominent businessman involved in shipping, his wife and his 15-year-old son. Their identities have not been made public.

It is believed that the heroin arrived in Greece via Turkey, and was then concealed in marble dust shipments at the warehouses before being distributed to the Greek and European market.

The street value of 1 gram of heroin in Greece is estimated at between 30-60 euros depending on its purity.

This seizure was the biggest of its kind ever to be recorded in Greece.

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