Coast guard releases video of chase after drug smugglers

The Greek coast guard has released a video showing a boat chase that resulted in the seizure of 1.6 tons of cannabis and the arrest so far of 10 men suspected of being part of a large network smuggling drugs from Albania to Greece and Italy.

The suspicious speedboat was first intercepted by a coast guard patrol in the early hours of Saturday in the Ionian Sea and was pursued by more coast guard vessels and a helicopter across to the Aegean.

Two officers were injured when they dove off their boat under fire from the smugglers, who were eventually stopped by helicopter snipers in the area between the islands of Makronissos and Tzia.

Three men, two Albanian nationals and an Italian, were arrested on the boat and another seven suspects have been brought in for questioning since.

They are believed to be part of a gang that has been on the radar of Greek authorities for some time for smuggling large quantities of cannabis from Albania by speedboat.