Greek port workers jailed pending trial on drug smuggling charges

Horse (Reuters) -Greece’s largest port workers in Piraeus, Latin America, a gang hidden in the transport containers hidden in a gang allegedly participated in a gang, the workers were arrested on Friday, he said.

The case has been the third investigation that has led to the arrest of port workers on charges of drug trafficking since 2023.

The suspects employed by a private company that manages cargo operations in Piraeus Port were arrested on Monday. According to police officials, they responded to charges, including participation in an international criminal organization since at least on Friday. They refused to do wrong.

Police said the drugs were hidden in the refrigerator full of bananas sent from Ecuador.

The Greek police said the investigation, which revealed the tactics of the gang and contains the supervision of their communication, was initiated after a circuit by the US Drug Application Administration.

Police officials said that the crime ring led by an Albanian gang used the information of loading and unloading workers to the port facilities and load procedures.

Authorities, alleged gang members to find ships and cocaine parcels were assigned to remove the containers and one of them in contact with the drug buyers in Albania, he added. Three weapons and bullets were confiscated during the operation.

Defense lawyer, Nikos, said that the charges were aggravated because the first investigation was “hurried” and seven suspects appeared before a prosecutor to respond to the charges. Six of them were later detained waiting for a hearing and a seventh suspect was released.

South American cocaine production has increased in the last decade, and smugglers have helped to turn Europe into a large consumer and a transition point for cocaine. European countries have seized a record amount of cocaine every year since 2017.

(Reporting by Yannis Souliotis; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Diane Craft)