The reasons behind the killings and attacks that took place are said to be settling scores around cigarette smuggling
The steps taken by ELAS to solve the murders of leading members of the Greek Mafia, of the transnational criminal organization whose members committed murders, explosions and arson, were presented today Thursday at GADA.
According to what was said by the Director of the Attica Security Directorate, Brigadier General Ioannis Skouras, as emerged from the investigation of the Department of Crimes against Life and Personal Freedom, in collaboration with the Sub-Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Human Trafficking, of the Attica Security Directorate and the Security Sub-Directorate Katerinis, with the assistance of specialized services of ELAS, the members of an international organization involved in cases of homicide, attempted homicide and in cases of explosions – arson, namely:
-In his murder Yannis Skaftourou and the injury from the shootings of two of his relatives, on 04-25-2022 in Skourta Boeotia. In particular, two persons, having covered their features, attacked Skaftouros with firearms, fatally wounding him, while also injuring two of his relatives. They then escaped with a motorbike, which they abandoned and was found during the investigations. During the autopsy at the site, among other things, 23 shell casings, 1 fireball and 4 fireball fragments were found, while on the surface of the machine were found prints belonging to a member of the organization.
See the weapons found:
-In the homicide of Vassilis Roubetis and Dionysis Mouzakitis, on 07-06-2023 in Korydallos, whom they had killed while entering the parking lot of an apartment building. From the investigations at the site, 50 shell casings and 5 fireballs were found. A month later, a stolen vehicle was found in the area of ​​Aspropyrgos, on the surface of which, as well as on objects it contained, fingerprints of two members of the organization were found. At the same time, mobile phones were found inside the vehicle, the analysis of which revealed the involvement of two more members of the organization in the case.
-In the attempted murder of a citizen, on 07-03-2023 in a rural area in Platanodasos Svorono, Pieria. Specifically, two riders on a motorcycle approached the vehicle driven by the victim and shot at him, resulting in his serious injury. They then abandoned the machine and escaped in a vehicle driven by their accomplice. During the autopsy, 5 shell casings were found at the site. From the preliminary investigation, the natural perpetrator of the attack and the driver of the vehicle that escaped were identified.
– In the burning of vehicles in the parking lot of a gas station on 10-06-2023 in Aspropyrgos, premises which belong to companies of the Skaftouros family. In particular, four people, with covered features, approached the outdoor area of ​​a gas station and after immobilizing two employees at gunpoint, they caused fires and explosions in trucks.
-In the arson in an industrial warehouse on 16-06-2023, where machines related to the manufacture of tobacco products were destroyed. According to ELAS, nine people took part in the attack, having covered their features and carrying heavy weapons, blocked the entrance with a vehicle and entered an industrial warehouse. After immobilizing an employee, they set fire to 23 tobacco products manufacturing machines, destroying much of the mechanical equipment. The perpetrators fled the scene in vehicles, one of which was involved in a traffic accident, forcing them to abandon it. The vehicle was transferred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, while the investigations found fingerprints belonging to two members of the organization and revealed evidence linking another member to the arsons.
As highlighted in the interview, the reasons behind the killings and attacks that took place are allegedly to settle scores around cigarette smuggling.
According to what was said in the presentation of the case, the assistance of special investigators of the Directorate of Information Management and Analysis and the scientific staff of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, who through the special means and know-how at their disposal, succeeded throughout the preliminary investigation to provide safe and actionable conclusions.
In particular, important findings were identified and analyzed, which highlighted the correlation between the cases and demonstrated the existence of the said criminal organization and the action of its members as well as their motivation for carrying out the aforementioned criminal actions. The stolen car found in Aspropyrgos, where two mobile phones were inside, played a pivotal role in “tying up” the case, from the analysis of which it emerged that it was the business vehicle used by the perpetrators of the murders of Rubetis and Mouzakitis to follow them. In addition, a fingerprint was found inside the car that was identified with a fingerprint found on the car used to kill Skaftouros.
Two men were arrested for the casemembers of the organization, 39 and 21 years old, while, the identities of five more members have been identified, two of whom are incarcerated in prisons in Greece and Montenegro.
As noted by the Police, the majority of the members of the criminal organization have been involved in the past for a number of crimes, such as criminal organization, robbery, extortion, theft, forgery, drugs, weapons, etc.
The dismantling of the organization took place in the context of a coordinated police operation, which took place yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, in the area of ​​Aspropyrgos and in Thessaloniki, during which the two members of the organization were arrested, as well as another citizen for violation of the National Customs Code and the Arms Act, in whose possession 2 magazines and 230 packets of tobacco products were found.
In total, from the searches, the following were found and seized:
- 3 pistols,
- 1 revolver,
- number of magazines,
- multitude of cell phones and
- mobile signal jamming system.
Serious accusations of murder and heaps of serious crimes which were carried out in the context of large “transnational character” of a criminal organization, are included in the prosecution brought by the prosecutor against those arrested as executors in executions of Yannis Skaftourou, Vassilis Roubetis and Dionysis Mouzakitis and in three attempts.
Source: Skai
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