Police smash large drug racket with 97 arrests

Police in Athens said on Monday that a long-running investigation into a large international drug has been concluded with the arrest of 97 people.

The suspects — African, Albanian, Greek, Bulgarian and Romanian — are alleged to have been involved in channeling large quantities of heroin, cocaine and cannabis to locations close to central Athens for distribution across the capital.

The racket members were involved in all stages of production, cultivation and distribution of the drugs, according to police sources.

The suspected ringleader is an Albanian national who remains at large.

There are indications, police sources say, that the ring is linked to the gangland-style execution of another Albanian in Keratsini on November 13.

The racket had an estimated turnover of 19 million euros, according to police.

Apart from large quantities, police confiscated 10 cars, two motorcycles, a truck and precision scales.