In parallel police operations that took place yesterday morning in Chalkida and other areas of Euboea, a total of 11 people (nine men and two women) were arrested, aged between 25 and 51 years.
The operations used two drug detection dogs and searches were carried out in houses, shops and cars, in the presence of prosecutorial officials.
Among those arrested are six members of the criminal organization, all Albanians and specifically five men, aged 26, 29, 34, 29 and 25, as well as a 51‑year‑old woman. Additionally, the actions of another 15 of their compatriots were identified, also members of the circle, of which the three (two men and one woman) are already detained in Detention Facilities of the country.
Watch the EviaNews video:
A total of 21 individuals face charges of a criminal nature for forming and participating in a criminal organization, as well as importing, possessing, and trafficking narcotic substances.
The case file being compiled also includes 28 individuals, among them 5 detainees (two Greeks, two Albanians, and one Romanian), who face charges, as applicable, for the purchase, possession, and trafficking of narcotic substances and violations of the weapons law.
As emerged from the investigations, the criminal organization was formed at least since July 2013, initially by five of the detainees (51-year-old woman, 29-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 29-year-old man and 34-year-old man), of whom the first four were senior leaders, as well as another 40-year-old compatriot.
How the circuit “worked”
The purpose of this specific organization, which was gradually joined by 15 more individuals (of whom three are already incarcerated in the country's detention facilities), was to import large quantities of narcotics, mainly hashish and cocaine, from Albania,
which they then trafficked into Greek territory, reaping significant financial benefits.
As was indeed found, the criminal organization managed to conceal its illegal activity and to mislead the investigations of the prosecuting authorities.
In particular, the members of the organization used many telephone connections, which were not registered with their real details, but with details of third-country nationals (ghost numbers), as well as social networking sites (Facebook and Skype).
In addition, in their telephone conversations, they communicated with passphrases and a pre-recorded code.
What the police found
Within the framework of the police operations, investigations were carried out in 10 houses, 2 stores and numerous vehicles, where a total of the following were found and seized:
• one kilogram and approximately 400 grams of raw hashish,
• 27.7 grams of cocaine,
• a hashish seedling, 1.70 meters high,
• a pistol, 2 hunting guns and 2 magazines,
• 25 cartridges of various calibers (pistols) and 7 hunting gun cartridges,
• 3 swords in a sheath and a metal sword, 70 centimeters long,
• 6 knives and 3 daggers,
• 6 electronic precision scales,
• a plastic grater with cannabis residues,
• the amount of -10,640- euros,
• a private car,
• 13 mobile phones and 3 bank deposit books,
• receipts for sending - transferring amounts of money and various written notes.
The detainees, with the case file being compiled against them, will be taken to the Prosecutor's Office of the First Instance of Chalkida.
Within the framework of the pre‑investigative work carried out by the Chalkida Security Department, the entire scope of the organization’s criminal activity is being investigated, the possible involvement – participation of additional individuals and the potential linking of them with other similar and/or related criminal groups.
Source: newsit.gr
