Eight individuals, including four police officers, were arrested on Thursday by the Internal Affairs Division of the Hellenic Police (ELAS), following warrants issued in connection with their alleged involvement in a criminal organisation engaged in drug trafficking.
According to an announcement, the investigation was launched following the evaluation and cross-referencing of separate complaints and preliminary findings concerning illegal activities linked to a junior officer(currently suspended due to a separate case) and a senior officer of the police force. The inquiry used evidence obtained through special investigative methods.
Further analysis of the collected evidence, combined with other investigative material, led to the identification of the arrested individuals, as well as one additional suspect still at large, who has reportedly been involved in drug trafficking activities since at least October 2023.
The case file also includes 13 additional individuals, including another police officer, who are accused of offences unrelated to the core operation of the criminal organisation, such as bribery, trading in influence, and violation of official secrecy.
As for the modus operandi of the organisation, police report that the ringleader was the suspended officer, who acted as an intermediary for sourcing significant quantities of drugs and coordinated their distribution. Six members of the group were responsible for transportation, quality assessment, and financing of drug purchases.
Of particular note were the roles of two police officers stationed in Mykonos and Attica:The officer in Mykonos allegedly collaborated with the ringleader to collect funds for purchasing drugs intended for redistribution.The officer in Attica is said to have supplied the ringleader with large quantities of narcotics and provided strategic advice on managing the other members of the organisation.
The investigation also revealed the involvement of a police officer, who - acting as a member of a criminal subgroup operating under the umbrella of the main organisation - abused his official capacity to misappropriate narcotic substances. These substances were then passed on to the ringleader through another member for further distribution.
To avoid detection, members of the criminal organisation made use of encrypted communication apps and other concealment methods to cover their activities. They also used third-party bank accounts to hide the flow of money.
More specifically, the group systematically transferred large sums of money to bank accounts belonging to the ringleader or other associates, either through bank transfers or cash deposits, with the intent of laundering the proceeds from their criminal activities.
Detailed financial analysis revealed that over the past five years, a total of 3,837,943.34 euros was deposited into the accounts of the ringleader, while an additional 1,032,027.28 euros was credited to the accounts of his partner, who was also a member of the organisation.
As part of the police operation, which was carried out in areas of Attica and Mykonos with the assistance of officers from the Mykonos Police, raids were conducted in homes and vehicles. The operation led to the discovery and seizure of the following items:

4.3 kilos of a narcotic substance, likely cocaine,

A precision scale,

20,900 euros in cash,

14 mobile phones,

13 cartridges (ammunition).

The arrested individuals are to be brought before the competent prosecutorial authority.