The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime participated in an operation against doping and the trafficking of counterfeit medicines in a total of 31 countries.

In Operation SHIELD V, apart from the Greek service, the French authorities (French Gendarmerie/OCLAESP), the Spanish authorities (Guardia Civil) and the Italian authorities (Italian Carabinieri Corps/NAS Carabinieri) participated.

The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the National Police handled 9 cases of 9 criminal networks with national and transnational activities and its officers arrested 30 people, while the criminal cases formed included 36 additional defendants.

It is noted that the total proceeds from the criminal activity of those involved exceeded 6,500,000 euros.

The ELAS statement

The Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, under the coordination of Europol, participated jointly with the French authorities (French Gendarmerie/OCLAESP), the Spanish authorities (Guardia Civil), and the Italian authorities (Italian Carabinieri Corps/NAS Carabinieri) in a pan-European operational action called SHIELD V, to combat the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and doping substances.

The action was implemented between April and November 2024, with the participation of law enforcement authorities from 31 countries on three continents, the assistance of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Union Intellectual Property Office, INTERPOL, EUROJUST, FRONTEX, the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and private entities.

In the context of the operational action, the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime handled -9- cases. After many months of thorough investigations, the subject of which was -9- criminal networks with national and transnational activities, -30- persons were arrested, while -36- accused were included in the criminal files that were formed.

During the investigations carried out, among other things, the following were seized:

more than -495,000- pieces of illegal pharmaceuticals, medical devices ,and other illegal preparations,
-104 kg of raw materials,
a sum of money of more than EUR -460,000
gold bars and gold pounds,
-773.6 grams of cannabis,
-8- pistols/revolvers and numerous cartridges.
The total proceeds from the criminal activity of those involved exceeded -6,500,000- euros.