Long Sentences After Discovery of Largest XTC Smuggling Operation Ever in Europe, Set up from the Netherlands

thessaloniki - Two Iraqis of Kurdish origin and two Greeks were charged in the case involving the transport of half a million XTC pills from the Netherlands to Greece.

The massive load of 500,000 XTC pills was seized in Thessaloniki in 2020. Greek media are reporting on the trial. It is the largest quantity ever seized in Europe, with an estimated value of 2.5 to 10 million euros, depending on how they are sold.

The illegal shipment was driven from the Netherlands, across European roads, to Greece. Court documents revealed that the intention was for the drugs to ultimately end up in Turkey. Two Iraqis of Kurdish origin and two Greeks were indicted in the case.

The sentences, on appeal, are lower than initially imposed by the court. One of the defendants was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but due to some 'mitigating circumstances,' the Supreme Court decided to reduce the sentence to nine years.

Regardless, other suspects face long prison terms. Sentences of eight, nine, ten, and 14.5 years were imposed. A fourth suspect, who seems to have played a smaller role, must spend four years behind bars.

Initially, 180,000 XTC pills were seized in a truck, and later, 320,000 pills in a car in the city of Diavata.

The defendants defended themselves by claiming they believed they were transporting anabolic steroids.