Greek police seize 500,000 ecstasy pills, arrest 3 people

THESSALONIKI, Greece – Greek police said Saturday they have seized 500,000 ecstasy pills and arrested three people.

The operation took place Friday in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, police said. The street value of the pills was 10 million euros ($11.63 million).

First, police arrested a 56-year-old Greek truck driver in a truck rest area west of the northern city. They found 180,000 pills in the truck.

Shortly afterwards, police stopped a car where they found 320,000 more ecstasy pills. They also arrested two Iraqis, ages 49 and 52, one a long-time resident of the Netherlands and the other a resident of Greece.

A police official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation that the pills were apparently manufactured in Western Europe and were destined for the Greek and, “quite likely,” the Turkish markets.

Police are looking for a fourth person, another Greek truck driver.