Disrupted Gang – Involved in explosions, bodily harm, attempted murder

A criminal organization whose members are involved in cases of explosions, arson, bodily harm, attempted murder and violation of arms and drug laws has been dismantled by the Extortion Prosecution Section of the Organized Crime Directorate.

In order to end their activity, in the morning hours of Monday, December 16, 2024, a coordinated operation was carried out by police officers of the Department of Extortion, in collaboration with the operational teams of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, in various areas of Southeast Attica, in Marathon and Pagrati.

79 people in the case file – 25 arrested – The remaining 14 members have also been identified

In the context of the operation, -25- members of the criminal organization were identified and arrested, while the case file that was formed additionally includes the leading member, who is already incarcerated in a detention center and another -14- members, the majority of whom have been identified, who – as the case may be – are accused of criminal organization, arson, explosion, manufacture and possession of explosive and incendiary materials, damage to foreign property, attempted murder, robbery and violations of arms laws and drugs.

At the same time, the case file also includes -39- people, the majority of whom are accused of drug law violations.

As it emerged from the investigation, through the utilization of all the collected pre-investigative material and the laboratory tests of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the members of the criminal organization, at least since November 2023, had a structured and continuous action seeking to traffic and trade narcotics in various regions of Southeast Attica, while the hard core of it also proceeded with “custom” placement Improvised Incendiary Explosive Devices, arson, attempted murder, kidnapping, etc. serious offences.

How did they act?

Regarding the mode of action (modus operandi), the leading role of the organization was held by a 44-year-old, already incarcerated in the country’s detention center, who together with -2- other members, with the role of deputy leader, had completely taken over the smooth operation of the criminal organization organization, both in the managerial and the executive part. In fact, characteristically, the two deputy leaders throughout their action stated that they were acting on behalf of the leading member.

To achieve their purpose, the criminal organization operated in two sub-groups, with separate structure and action.

The first subgroup constituted the “hard core” of the organization, undertaking both the trafficking of narcotics and the commission of serious crimes that resulted in substantial risk to human lives and serious material damage.

In the second subgroup, its members were lower in the hierarchy and were active exclusively and daily in the trafficking of narcotics, in various areas of Southeast Attica, specifically in Glyfada, Argyroupoli, Elliniko, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Vari, Alimo, Ilioupoli, Koropi, Lagonisi and Abyss.

In fact, the members of the criminal organization throughout their activity took special counter-surveillance measures, avoiding naming each other, speaking in vague and coded terms, with coded expressions and words, while preferring face-to-face meetings.

The cases solved

From the combined study of the pre-investigative material, in addition to the trafficking of narcotic substances, it was found that the following were committed by the criminal organization with the participation – as the case may be – of its members:

• arson attack on a health care store, in November 2023 in Maroussi,
• placement of an Improvised Explosive Incendiary Device, in June 2024, at the entrance of an apartment building in Peristeri,
• kidnapping and causing bodily harm to a person, in August 2024, for his monetary debt,
• threats to prison officers, in August 2024;
• placement of an Improvised Explosive Incendiary Device, in August 2024, in a store of health interest in Argyroupoli and
• in the attempted homicide with a firearm and a knife against -2- persons, in October 2024 in Nea Smyrni.

What did the investigations find?

From the searches carried out as part of the operation, the following were found and seized:

• -154,915- euros,
• -1- kilo of cocaine,
• -32,600- grams of cannabis, -50- Ecstasy pills, -640- grams of MDMA,
• -16- scales and -23- graters,
• -5- pistols and seven pistol magazines,
• -2- airguns with magazines,
• bulletproof vest,
• military weapon magazine with twenty-nine rounds,
• cartridge belt,
• -17- knives,
• iron fist,
• metal rod,
• -12- cars and -9- motorcycles,
• multitude of nylon packages,
• -18- firecrackers, -37- smoke generators, -62- fireworks – sparklers,
• -6- flares and flare gun,
• -3- locker launchers,
• multitude of anabolics,
• number of mobile phones and sim cards,
• various digital data storage media,
• -3- high value watches,
• laptops,
• -110- British pounds,
• police quotient and
• -13- spray paint.

Those arrested, who have been employed in the past for similar offences, were taken to the competent Prosecutor, while the investigation continues in order to fully investigate the scope of the criminal activity of the members of the criminal organization.