Drugs seized in Athens destined for Middle East, linked to daesh

A large quantity of narcotics seized last week during a raid on an illegal lab in Elefsina, 17 km west of here, were destined to countries in the Middle East and with links with Islamic State (IS), Greek authorities said on Monday, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.

One Greek national, two Albanians and one Turkish national have been arrested and another three individuals are wanted in connection with the case, officials said during a press briefing at the headquarters of the Greek financial crimes squad (SDOE).

According to investigators, the case is linked to IS since Captagon pills, a synthetic amphetamine, is widely used by jihadi fighters to make them ruthless, remorseless, more physically resilient, and unafraid.

The 635,000 Captagon tablets seized during last week's raid on the drug lab represent the largest quantity of such narcotic pills ever seized in Greece. Their street value is estimated at about 10 million euros (10.5 million U.S. dollars).

It is the first time authorities have discovered a Captagon lab for the manufacturing of these drugs in Greece, officials stressed.

Based on the substances found during the raid, it is estimated that the lab had the capacity to produce another batch of a similar size.

The bust followed a three-month stake out and investigation carried out by the SDOE in collaboration with the Greek coast guard and the Greek police.

Greek authorities were tipped off about the international ring's action by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Greek officials said.

Greek authorities are now also investigating whether any of the drugs were sold on the Greek market.

During the operation, Greek authorities discovered and confiscated a truck with a secret compartment for transporting the drugs, as well as a speed boat with two powerful 500-horsepower outboard motors, capable of reaching speeds of up to about 115 km per hour. Investigators believe the drugs were to be transferred to the speedboat for transportation to Turkey and from there to countries in the Middle East, including Syria.

Greek investigators have also seized documents belonging to people involved in the case that will be further examined by Greek and international authorities.

Source: Xinhua