Greek police, coast guard net contraband smugglers, cargo
A joint operation by the police and the coast guard on Monday resulted in the seizure of 3,500 crates of contraband cigarettes from a Sao Tome-flagged cargo vessel off the Bay of Messara, Crete, and the arrest of six foreign nationals and two Greeks.
Coast guard officers also impounded four trucks which had been parked in the bay, apparently ready to receive the illicit cargo for distribution.
A coast guard helicopter had been observing the vessel for several days, according to sources.
