An international operation has brought to an end a criminal group that produced large quantities of synthetic cannabis in an illegal laboratory based in Thessaloniki, after a major operation that culminated in the arrest of five of its suspected members. Five men, four Greeks and one Albanian (respectively 29, 35, 58, 39 and 28 years old) were arrested as members of this group. The first two, according to an announcement by the Greek police, are accused of being leaders of the group. The first accepted the orders and the second prepared the drug in the laboratory located in the center of Thessaloniki. 

The narcotics appear to have been sent by post and via courier companies to markets in Europe and America, following relevant orders received by the criminal group from potential buyers on a special platform for the exchange of coded messages, while financial transactions were settled through electronic wallets - cryptocurrencies. 

As it became known, the seizure two months ago in Lithuania of eight postal packages coming from Thessaloniki with synthetic narcotics, also mobilized the European law enforcement authorities. Officers from the Prosecutor's Office of Thessaloniki participated in the investigations to uncover the network, while their Lithuanian colleagues, EUROPOL as well as the American Narcotics Service (D.E.A. of Athens) and employees of the State Chemistry Department participated in the investigations. 

In the improvised and well-organized laboratory, as well as in a warehouse in the area of Triandria and in other places investigated, 43 kilograms and 254 grams of synthetic cannabis in solid form, over 6 liters of synthetic cannabis in liquid form, about 2 kilograms of treated cannabis in chocolate form, 92.2 grams of raw cannabis and 17 narcotic tablets. Also, 3 pistols, cartridges, three cryptocurrency electronic wallets, 11 mobile phones, synthetic drug production laboratory items and equipment and an amount of 126,220 euros were seized. 

Investigations are continuing for the complete clarification of the illegal activity of the criminal organization and any connection with other similar networks, while the arrested have been referred for criminal prosecution to the competent prosecutor's office.