Greek police shut down refrigerant smuggling ring

GREECE: Greek authorities claim to have dismantled a large-scale criminal organisation illegally importing refrigerants from Albania.

The coordinated police operation resulted in the arrest of seven Greek nationals in Kastoria, Northern Greece. Two more members of the organisation were identified, including a 53-year-old leader of the organisation and a 70-year-old, owner of a transport company, based in Thessaloniki.

As well as the illegal imports, those arrested are suspected of further trafficking the refrigerants through an organised distribution network, with the aim of selling them.

Among items seized were 977 refrigerant cylinders, with a total weight of 11.4 tonnes, five vehicles and €1,742 in cash. The Hellenic police have not revealed the identity of the types of refrigerant involved but they were valued at approximately €494,500.

After importation by unknown individuals, the shipments were  collected and temporarily hidden near the Greek-Albanian border. They were then transported to a business in the Kastoria area, before being taken by the transport company to its warehouses based in Kozani and Thessaloniki area, and sold throughout Greece.