A multinational cocaine cartel, consisting of a chemist, a Bolivian connection linked to Latin American cartels, a Spanish dealer, three Albanian traffickers, and five Greek ‘businessmen,’ smuggled cowhides from Latin America into Greece under the guise of manufacturing clothing and shoes. However, these hides were soaked in pure cocaine. The case, described as highly significant, is still ongoing, with seven arrests made so far and at least three suspects still at large.
The 30 pallets arrived in Athens via container, disguised as legitimate leather shipments — a method that allowed the cartel to bypass law enforcement detection. According to narcotics investigators, this represents a new and sophisticated trafficking technique used by major drug networks to transport narcotics undetected through major ports.
Inside a house in Pikermi, the cartel allegedly set up a lab where they extracted the cocaine from the hides using specialized chemical solvents. After converting the substance into powder form, it was distributed across Greece and other European countries. This complex recovery process indicates that the group had both technical knowledge and access to equipment — including a skilled chemist who understood the precise procedures required.