GREEK police yesterday said they have seized weapons and more than a tonne of cocaine, and arrested eight foreign nationals in a series of raids on a drug-smuggling network.

The suspects had been bringing drugs into Europe and northern Africa from the Caribbean by yacht, said the force in a statement.

They are believed to have made more than €50 million (RM224 million).

Officers found 1,040kg of cocaine contained in 1kg pouches packed into travel bags in a raid on Friday on the western port of Astakos. They arrested two people living there, aged 23 and 35.

Police in Athens raided three apartments in the city, arresting six more people, all foreign nationals.

They found another 394g of cocaine in one apartment, as well as a Kalashnikov rifle, two pistols and ammunition.

The raids followed a six-month investigation that involved cooperation from the US embassy in Athens, and police in Albania and Spain.

The leaders of the drug network are based in a European country, and suspected members of the organisation have been identified in the Balkans and Spain, said police.

Cops in Greece and other countries are still searching for nine other suspected members of the network, the statement added. – AFP, January 26, 2020.