The recently dismantled cigarette smuggling network known as 'Ballerina' operated in a highly secretive manner resembling a terrorist organization, with members who did not know each other's identities. The Greek police's operations revealed that the network consisted of 25 individuals, 19 of whom were arrested in Attica and six in Boeotia. These individuals acted independently, executing specific tasks without a comprehensive understanding of the overall illegal activities involved in the smuggling operation.

Investigation details indicate that the smuggling process predominantly took place through Belgium, which served as an intermediary transfer point for the illicit goods. Reportedly, the 'Ballerina' network used structured commands and decentralized operations, where individual members acted like isolated links in a larger chain without awareness of each other's roles. This decentralized model made it challenging for authorities to track the entirety of the operation and highlighted the need for comprehensive international cooperation to combat such organized crime.

The revelations about the network's modus operandi have significant implications for law enforcement in Greece and beyond, as they suggest a level of sophistication and organization that requires a reassessment of strategies against not just cigarette smuggling but organized crime in a larger sense. As the investigation continues, the authorities may need to increase their collaboration with countries like Belgium and the UK to further dismantle any remaining infrastructure linked to the 'Ballerina' operations, preventing potential escalation into more serious criminal activities.