A new cocaine trafficking method was uncovered in Pikermi, where drug dealers used leather materials soaked with liquid cocaine to evade customs controls. This preferred method of Latin American drug traffickers involves soaking clothing and leather with liquid cocaine to avoid unwanted inspections and seizures at customs stations.
This appears to be the pattern from recent shipments to various European Union countries, including Greece. Police uncovered such a cocaine ring yesterday in Pikermi, where drug dealers had just received massive quantities of leather materials soaked with liquid cocaine.
High-tech cocaine laboratory in abandoned factory
In an old factory, they had set up their high-tech laboratory and with the help of a chemist, they planned to extract the cocaine, convert it into “rocks” – solid form – and then, after necessary adulteration, distribute it to drug dealers.
The extraction process of the soaked cocaine is extremely dangerous, as the ring used toxic liquids and substances highly detrimental to health.
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Eleven arrests for cocaine trafficking ring
Officers from the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Department had gathered sufficient information about the activities of Greeks and foreigners in Pikermi and arrested eleven individuals, including Greek nationals, Roma, a Spaniard and a Pole.
During the police operation at the factory and simultaneous raids at the suspects’ homes, the following were present:
• Prosecutorial official overseeing the investigations
• Specially trained narcotics detection dog
• Firefighters with special equipment
• Team of specialists from the General State Chemistry Laboratory
Seizures and international investigations
During the investigations, dozens of sacks containing materials used for drug extraction were found, along with the high-tech laboratory, the large shipment of leather materials, while money, jewelry, small quantities of narcotics and weapons were discovered in the suspects’ homes.
The gang failed to proceed with the cocaine production process, as narcotics officers intercepted them first. Their method of operation was structured, and what is currently being investigated, in cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, are the drug senders.
The ease with which the extremely valuable cargo worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of euros reached the hands of the gang that was dismantled in Pikermi concerns police, who are seeking ways to “uncover” the soaking method that drug traffickers are using increasingly frequently.
With information from Apogevmatini
