Professional executioners and an expensive death contract are seen by the police behind the brutal murder of 44-year-old Vangelis Zampounis in Neo Kosmos, which is directly related to the civil war of the Greek mafia.

The perpetrators, whose details are sought, as well as their principals, had excellent training and organization, carrying out their mission in cold blood, and within a few seconds.

The profile of the performers: Highly trained

The executioners of “Ham” were highly trained and ruthless. 44-year-old Vangelis Zampounis knew he was wanted dead and was prepared to defend himself, but the gunmen were much better prepared, and had planned the killing blow with heavy firepower. They fired in bursts at the same point of the mosque, in order for the balls to penetrate the armor, which they succeeded. The Kalashnikov is a combat weapon with a range of 1.5 kilometers, while in this case it was fired from a distance of 30-40 points. Zampounis didn’t even have time to use the pistol he had with him.

… And their “identity”.

The police say that according to the first image they have, the perpetrators were Caucasians, Georgians or Chechens and people from Eastern Europe in general, without, of course, excluding any other possibility. Lifetime Crime Squad officers believe it is possible that these are “for-hire/imported” hitmen, or at least have connections abroad to procure stolen vehicles and weapons. The action methodology is also reminiscent of at least two other death contracts in the recent past. This is a 38-year-old gas station owner in Gerakas in June 2022, as well as an Albanian gas seller in Nice in 2021.

Did he try to “expand his business?”

One of the scenarios that ELAS is considering in relation to the identity of the masterminds is that the attack against the 44-year-old is connected to him trying to expand his activity in the area of ​​Aspropyrgos and Western Attica, which brought him into conflict with the Russian-speaking mafia that is active in the smuggling of tobacco products and petroleum products.

“Ham” had become complacent

Although Zampounis is considered one of the strongest members of the so-called “Greek Mafia”, he had become complacent, and had no guards to guard him, which is not usual, only occasionally he had a motorcyclist who he used as an escort who controlled the places he visited.

Will the victim’s cell phones “talk”?

Much weight has also been given to the burnt-out getaway vehicle, stolen from Milan in June 2023. The police are trying to establish his route, how he came to Greece, but also the route of the perpetrators with the vehicle in question. The vehicles that left the burning site will also be examined, a vehicle and a motorcycle. Also in the “microscope” are five cell phones of the victim, two that he had in his possession and three others in his office and at his home. ELAS hopes that mobile phones will “talk” to identify any suspicious communications.

Jacuzzi and bulletproof windows

It is noted that the particular gas station, one of the most of the 10 interests of Zampounis, had special armor, bulletproof windows, a “panic room”, there was also a gym, a jacuzzi and a bed in order to spend the night there. He spent most of his day there, only coming out to board the armored jeep.