A transnational criminal organization involved in transporting large quantities of raw cannabis from Albania to Türkiye via Greece was dismantled by the law enforcement authorities of Greece and North Macedonia.
The investigation, code-named ‘VARDARIS’ was preceded by the appropriate assessment of intelligence concerning the organization’s activities, through operational meetings and information exchange supported by SELEC.
The criminal activities of the organized crime group were determined following police actions conducted in both countries, verifications and cross-checking of information (also with the support of the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo*).
The operation revealed that the members of the organization, which had a hierarchical structure and professional infrastructure, used international freight trucks to transport significant quantities of raw cannabis, concealed in loads of recyclable paper. They also used legitimate loads of paper for recycling, both to conceal the drugs in specially constructed compartments and to provide a legitimate cover for the movement of the vehicles.
Two individuals, members of the criminal organization, were arrested in Greece and one in Republic of North Macedonia, while the case file also includes another foreign national who has been identified and is currently being sought.
Investigations to identify and locate their accomplices in Albania and Türkiye are continuing.
More than 324 kilograms of raw cannabis were seized, carefully concealed in a load of paper for recycling.
The expected illicit financial benefit from the organization’s activities is estimated to exceed €700,000.
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* “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.”
