A high-ranking Greek police officer stated that the case uncovered in Crete reveals “a lot of filth and stench” and is expected to bring many serious revelations to light. The case file from Chania Security includes mafia-like practices and underworld activities, involving criminal figures, businesspeople, and uniformed personnel. The criminal organization allegedly operated in drug trafficking, weapons, extortion, threats, intimidation, and bombing attacks.
Crete: Criminal infiltration of tourism sector
A key figure in the criminal organization is allegedly a person who currently operates a hotel and beach bar at a tourist resort in Chania, though his reputation from his previous nightlife activities precedes him. The authorities place his brother alongside him at the organizational level.
According to information, another key figure operates a business in Kolymbari and allegedly maintains close ties with the first individual.
Key members of the organization had apparently infiltrated tourism and hospitality sectors, laundering money and conducting high-end businesses. Perhaps even “sacred” ones, considering information suggesting they exploited Church lands.
According to Cretalive, individuals allegedly involved as key figures in the criminal organization are connected to the illegal occupation and sale of 175 acres belonging to Tzagarolon Monastery to foreign investors, a case that caused intense upheaval within the local Church and led to judicial appeals for an in-depth prosecutorial investigation. There are also recorded conversations where a central figure of the criminal organization can be heard promoting a specific candidate for the vacant Metropolitanate of Kydonia and Apokoronas. Notably, his preferred candidate was not registered in the list of eligible candidates at that time.
Regarding uniformed personnel, it is alleged that the police officer provided information on matters concerning the main suspect, while the military personnel allegedly engaged in fuel smuggling from their units!
48 arrests in massive operation
The case had been under investigation for considerable time by Chania Security personnel, with several special preliminary acts conducted to lift telephone secrecy and identify specific suspects through connections. The massive operation resulting in 48 arrests, as officially announced by Greek Police Headquarters, allegedly relates to various cases that came to public attention previously. However, authorities presented them as isolated incidents to avoid damaging the main case, since the goal was to dismantle the criminal organization’s empire and they needed unshakeable evidence. Even now, with investigations essentially completed, Greek police officially maintain silence until official announcements clarify what is attributed to each individual, their role in the organization, and degree of involvement.
What triggered authorities’ suspicions
This case allegedly relates to extremely serious incidents that inevitably aroused Security officers’ suspicions and warranted in-depth investigation given the enormous scope. The first serious incident was a bomb explosion outside an active police officer’s home in Chania in January 2024. Two arrests were made in this case, followed by convictions.
One year later, in January 2025, Greek police faced another major “surprise”: in the possession of a 36-year-old arrested 24 hours earlier with weapons and 1.5 kilos of cocaine, they discovered warehouses with explosive materials and two ready-made bombs. Since then, police officials estimated a connection existed with the police officer bombing case and decided to restructure their investigations. This months-long investigation resulted in the massive operation with 48 arrests.
It should be noted that at 1 PM, after dozens of searches were completed in the presence of numerous judicial officials, the Greek Police Press Office sent the following update: “An extensive operation by the Chania Crime Investigation and Detection Subdivision is ongoing since early morning hours today, with assistance from OPKE units from Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno, TAE units from Chania and Heraklion, EKAM Crete, in the presence of 8 judicial officials, in areas of Chania and Rethymno prefectures to dismantle a criminal organization whose members are involved in drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, etc. So far, 48 individuals have been arrested, while quantities of cannabis, cocaine, pistols, military rifles, vehicles, etc. have been seized. Further updates will follow.”
