Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) arrested members of a drug trafficking ring that imported cocaine from Colombia through Athens International Airport, hidden in shipments of roses.
The operation was named “The Flowers of Evil.” Authorities found that over eight months, a total of eight shipments containing 84 kg of cocaine arrived at Athens airport.
The first one or two shipments are believed to have been trial runs, according to Kathimerini, while the later shipments are believed to have contained cocaine hidden among the flowers.
Analysis of wastewater in the Athens metropolitan area showed that cocaine levels increased by nearly 22% between 2024 and 2025.
To avoid raising suspicion and reduce the risk of detection, the group did not ship the cocaine directly from Colombia to Greece, as this would have triggered alerts in the risk-analysis systems used by Greek police and customs authorities. Instead, the roses containing the cocaine were first sent to Canada.
The importer was listed as a company established in 2023, but authorities found that it had no physical headquarters, no employees and no connection to the flower trade. When the roses were shipped from Canada, this “ghost” flower shop was listed as the recipient. The property had been rented by members of the group just days before the drug shipment arrived in Athens.
Source: Kathimerini
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