Revealing statements from the head of police forces in Thessaly, Brigadier George Dizzes, and the director of the “Greek FBI” in northern Greece, Aristides Mintzas, exposed the operations of a multi-faceted criminal organization that tormented Karditsa and Larissa for many months. This organization systematically stole transformers from the Greek Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE) to extract copper and sell it, causing incalculable damage to the local community and the electricity distribution network management organization.
How the criminal network operated to destroy DEDDIE transformers in Karditsa and Larissa
The experienced Greek police officers reported that the investigation leading to the dismantling was months-long. A total of 25 people were arrested, while 4 more have been identified as involved in the case. Authorities recorded 561 total copper thefts from DEDDIE transformers. The stolen copper was channeled to a metal processing and recycling business (scrap) in the wider Larissa area. The illegal financial benefit of the organization is estimated to exceed 890,000 euros. The total damage to DEDDIE is calculated at more than 3 million euros. However, these were not the only damages as the thefts directly affected agricultural production, electricity supply, and the operation of critical infrastructure.
A total of 29 people are involved, of which 25 were arrested and 4 more were identified. The organization operated in rural areas of the Regional Units of Karditsa and Larissa. In Karditsa from December 2024 to May 2026 and in Larissa: from April 2025 to May 2026.
The members had distinct roles and functioned as an organized criminal group. They operated mainly after midnight to avoid detection. They used different group compositions for each hit, with core and peripheral members. They moved with different vehicles, which were alternated depending on the group composition. After managing to remove copper from DEDDIE network transformers, they subsequently sold the copper in the market through a metal recycling business (scrap). A total of 332 transformer thefts occurred in Karditsa and 229 transformer thefts in Larissa, bringing the final count to 561 thefts.
Criminal charges for organized crime, theft and money laundering
Criminal charges were filed against those involved for: Criminal organization, aggravated theft, acceptance and disposal of crime products, and violations of weapons legislation.
During the searches, the following were found and confiscated:
* 16,530 euros in cash.
* 14 vehicles.
* 29 mobile phones.
* 1 hunting rifle.
* 19 cartridges.
* Straps, wooden and metal bars.
* Metal cutter.
* Sledgehammer.
Of the 25 arrested, 15 were arrested in Karditsa, 7 in Larissa, 2 in Magnesia and one in Trikala.
George Dizzes: “The thefts affected citizens’ daily lives and critical infrastructure”
“We managed to identify the actions of a criminal organization that was active in stealing copper from DEDDIE transformers in rural areas of the Regional Units of Karditsa and Larissa, and subsequently its members proceeded to sell and dispose of this copper in the market, obtaining illegal financial benefit,” said the General Regional Police Director of Thessaly, Brigadier George Dizzes.
He continued: “In the context of a coordinated police operation, 25 people were arrested, while 4 more people who are involved in the case were identified.
Particular importance is attached to the scope of criminal activity, as a total of 561 cases of copper theft from DEDDIE transformers have been recorded. These thefts, as mentioned, took place in rural areas of the Regional Units of Karditsa and Larissa, while subsequently, the members proceeded to dispose of the copper to a metal processing and recycling business (SCRAP) in the wider area of Larissa, obtaining illegal financial benefit.
These are acts that directly affect citizens’ daily lives, agricultural production, as well as the safety and operation of basic networks and critical infrastructure.
It is worth noting that from their criminal activity it is estimated that the illegal financial benefit obtained by the organization members in total exceeds 890,000 euros, while the total damage suffered by DEDDIE is estimated at over 3,000,000 euros.
I would like at this point to express my congratulations to all the police officers who participated in the investigation and operation. Working with zeal and dedication, patience and sense of duty, they achieved another significant success, proving that security is not a given, but the result of daily effort, with planning, consistency and determination.
Finally, I would like to emphasize and assure you that the Greek Police and the Services of the General Regional Police Directorate of Thessaly continue with planning and dedication their work, giving daily emphasis to the prevention and suppression of all forms of crime, with the criterion of citizen safety and protection of the public interest.”
The intervention of the “Greek FBI” to dismantle the organization
“As mentioned by the General Regional Police Director of Thessaly, in the context of methodical investigation by the Karditsa Crime Investigation and Detection Department, in cooperation with the Larissa Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivision and with the assistance of the Information Collection and Management Department of the Thessaly General Regional Police Directorate, the activity of a criminal group was identified, whose members are involved in copper theft from DEDDIE transformers in rural areas of the Regional Units of Karditsa and Larissa,” said the Head of Public Relations and Journalist Information Office of the Thessaly General Regional Police Directorate, First Class Police Officer Petros Papadimitriou.
“In order to terminate their activities, from the early morning hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026, an extensive police operation was carried out in areas of Thessaly, in which police officers from the Karditsa Crime Investigation and Detection Department participated, as well as from the Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivisions of Larissa, Magnesia and Trikala.
The coordinated operation was also assisted by police officers from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and the Northern Greece Subdivision for Combating Organized Crime.
In total, 25 people were arrested, aged from 19 to 73 years, specifically 15 in the wider area of Karditsa, 7 in the wider area of Larissa, 2 in Magnesia and 1 in Trikala.
Criminal charges were filed against them, as well as against 4 other identified persons, for the respective crimes of criminal organization, aggravated theft, acceptance and disposal of crime products, as well as for violation of weapons legislation.
Specifically, after proper utilization of evidence, it emerged that the perpetrators united and established a criminal group, with different roles each, proceeding to commit copper thefts from transformers of the DEDDIE electricity transmission network and subsequently, selling and disposing of the copper in the market, obtaining illegal financial benefit.
More analytically, the perpetrators, with different composition each time, as core and peripheral members, using identical methodology, operated during after-midnight hours, in order not to be detected, while they moved with different vehicles, which they alternated depending on the group composition.
From the evidence so far, it appears that during the period from December 2024 until the day before yesterday, in the wider area of Karditsa a total of 332 copper thefts from DEDDIE transformers were committed, while in the wider area of Larissa, from April 2025 until the day before yesterday, a total of 229 copper thefts from DEDDIE transformers were committed.
In the context of the investigations carried out, the following were confiscated in total:
the amount of 16,530 euros,
14 vehicles (passenger cars, SUVs and trucks),
29 mobile phones,
1 hunting rifle,
19 cartridges &
various objects they used for their criminal activity (straps, wooden and metal bars, metal cutter and sledgehammer).
The arrested were brought before the Karditsa Misdemeanor Prosecutor and the case was referred to the Main Investigation.”
Aristides Mintzas: “Copper theft degrades the quality of life of the local community”
“Representing the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, I would like to congratulate all the police officers who participated or assisted in dismantling this specific criminal organization,” stated the Director of the Northern Greece Subdivision for Combating Organized Crime, Police Director Aristides Mintzas.
He added: “It is known that copper theft from transformers, beyond the enormous financial damage it causes to the Organization, simultaneously causes degradation of the quality of life of the local community.
I am here to assure, in turn, that my Service will continue to assist the region with whatever resources are required, until such phenomena are completely eliminated and generally any form of crime is combated always for the benefit of society.”
