The first one to inform o the forthcoming events was the Greek website zougla.gr, well known for the abundant criminal news it provides. Thessaloniki regional newspaper "Macedonia" added oil to the flames with the title "500 kilograms in the hold of a ship arriving at Thessaloniki." The previous day, the American Drug Enforcement Administration had warned the Greek police that "Belladonna" operation had started. From the Greek part, the Coast-guard and the Office of fighting economic crimes take part in the operation. They receive a message from across the ocean: "Ships with Colombian cocaine will arrive at 6 ports in the Mediterranean and one in Black Sea. This is a key-operation since it is the first one after the Colombian cartels have decided to move their business in Europe from Albania to Bulgaria."
40 days ago the American inspectors in Colombia inform that the loading of the ships have begun. The ships then sailed and the transfer of the drugs from one ship to another in order to hide its trails started. According to the settlement, the Bulgarian mafia was going to take over the load after it had arrived in Gibraltar. The American Drug Enforcement Administration used it powerful satellites in order to follow the shipment 24/7. Since the ships crossed different territorial waters, numbers of countries joined the operation- Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, and Israel.
Sunday, August 9. The ship headed to Pirea Port arrives. Zougla.gr and "Macedonia" newspaper get the inside track before the end of the operation and during the time the police are watching the ship. The information is neither denied nor confirmed by the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the Office of fighting economic crimes. The American Drug Enforcement Administration has the same respond, except that it admits that the operation has been launched. The Administration deputy director, David Evsielo, said journalistic questions should be referred to the American Embassy in Athens.
Tuesday, August 11. The American embassy in Athens officially announces that American and Greek special services are cooperating on this case of major importance. "Belladonna" first stage is completed. The 6-ton drug shipment has been transferred to the Bulgarian mafia, who is for the first time officially replacing Albania in the business, and begins distributing the cocaine among 7 ports. The continuous inability of the Albanian mafia to handle drug-distribution in Europe forces Colombia to search for new associates. Bulgarian mafia turns out to be a great solution- the network is very well developed and Bulgaria's membership in the European Union opens a lot of doors for the country.
What made this decision even easier was the fact that Bulgarians have already appropriated prostitute- and weapon-traffic. The drugs were simply the next step. Only, it failed right after it was born.
The American Drug Enforcement Administration and the Greek police managed to avert the Colombian operation of transferring cocaine traffic in Europe from Albanian to Bulgarian mafia.
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