Brief pause in drug trial

The biggest drug-smuggling trial in Greek history opened at a Piraeus court yesterday but was almost immediately postponed until tomorrow after lawyers representing the 33 defendants complained that the premises were too cramped. It remained unclear late last night where the proceedings would resume as two major trials are already under way at the Athens Appeals Court, which was proposed by the lawyers as an alternative. The suspects face charges of drug smuggling and forming a criminal organization following the discovery of 2 tons of heroin in Athens last year. The drug was shipped to Greece on board the Noor 1 cargo ship. Eleven of those charged are the ship’s crew.