“Roses” from Colombia: 84 kg of cocaine found in Lutsa’s flower shop

Under the guise of a party fresh roses from Colombia they tried to bring it into Greece 84 kilograms of cocaine: The cargo was traced to a flower shop in Luts, and the operation was called “Flowers of Evil”.

The smugglers used an unusual method of disguise. The drug was not located inside natural stems, as one might think from the first reports, but in plastic tubes attached to roses and imitating plant parts.

The operation was carried out by the ΔΕΟΣ group of the Independent Revenue Administration of Greece – AADE. It also involved members of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the so-called “Greek FBI,” members of the EKAM special forces and a service dog.

From Bogota via Montreal

According to News247the initial information about the suspicious cargo was transmitted to the Greek services by the American Drug Enforcement Administration – DEA.

Party from 80 boxes of roses sent by cargo flight from Bogota. The flowers were delivered via Montreal to the Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, after which AADE staff established surveillance of the cargo.

The end point was a flower shop in Artemis, better known by its former name Lutsa. According to investigators, the outlet was used as a cover for members of a criminal network.

Cocaine was extracted directly from the store

Artificial drug tubes were found in 15 of the 80 boxes. At the time of the operation, the four suspects were allegedly already disassembling the roses and separating the packages of cocaine from the flowers.

Approximately 82 kilograms of cocaine. Footage of the operation and the method of camouflaging the cargo were published by the publication iefimerida.

Laboratory in Marathon

The investigation led security forces to a house in the Marathon area, where, according to authorities, a room was set up for further processing and packaging of the drug.

Two more suspects were detained there – a father and son of Albanian origin, whom investigators consider to be the leaders of the group. During the search, more two kilograms of cocaine, packaging equipment and firearms.

Thus, the total weight of the confiscated drug reached 84 kilograms. In addition, authorities seized an expensive car. One of the alleged organizers, according to Greek media, is also accused in a separate murder case.

Six detained, two more sought

A total of six people were detained during the operation. Two more – a man and a woman – are wanted. The woman was allegedly officially associated with the management of the flower shop.

Investigators are looking into whether this route was used previously and how many shipments of cocaine may have entered Greece under the guise of flower deliveries.

A criminal case has been formed against the detainees for participation in a criminal organization, import and distribution of drugs. The materials were transferred to the competent prosecutor.

Source link