A Greek businessman dubbed the country’s “Escobar” has been remanded in custody after appearing before investigators in a major international drug trafficking case involving up to four tons of cocaine seized in the Atlantic Ocean.
The 61-year-old suspect, identified as Alexandros Angelopoulos, is accused of leading a criminal organization that used fishing vessels to smuggle large quantities of cocaine from Latin America to Europe. He is among four of the five suspects ordered into pretrial detention, while one was released under conditions.
Greek prosecutors allege that Angelopoulos exploited his long-standing business activity in the maritime fishing sector to coordinate international drug shipments. Authorities say he acted as the network’s chief organizer, overseeing logistics, recruiting crews, preparing vessels with specialized navigation equipment, and managing the laundering of illicit proceeds through companies linked to fishing operations.
During his testimony, Angelopoulos denied all charges, claiming that the fishing vessel where the cocaine was found no longer belonged to him. He told investigators he had transferred ownership in August 2025 to a crew member who has since been arrested by French authorities. Investigators and prosecutors rejected his claims, citing evidence gathered during the probe.
According to the case file, a key role was also played by a 73-year-old man based in the Netherlands, described as the ringleader’s right-hand man and liaison in Latin America. He remains at large and is linked to an earlier cocaine smuggling case dating back to 2004.
Investigators describe the group’s method as highly organized and consistent with international drug cartels. The network allegedly relied on fishing vessels as “mother ships,” transferring cocaine at sea to smaller boats to reduce the risk of detection before delivery to European shores.
The operation that dismantled the ring, known as “Operation Ippalos,” began in October 2024 following intelligence shared by U.S. authorities and expanded through cooperation with multiple Greek and European agencies. The breakthrough came on December 14, 2025, when the French Navy intercepted a Greek-flagged fishing vessel in overseas waters, discovering more than 130 packages of cocaine weighing between 3.4 and 4.7 tons.
Authorities estimate the organization’s expected illegal profits at more than €100 million, underscoring the scale of one of the largest drug trafficking cases to come to light in Greece in recent years.
