Greek organized crime authorities dealt a significant blow to the Russian-speaking mafia operating in Greece, arresting ...

Greek organized crime authorities dealt a significant blow to the Russian-speaking mafia operating in Greece, arresting two key figures within 48 hours last week. The Organized Crime Division tracked down a Georgian national known only as "Ilias," one of the mob's top hitmen, near Düsseldorf, Germany, after the Greek Homicide Division tipped off German police. Ilias is linked to at least four murders targeting senior members of the Greek Mafia over the past four years. According to police sources, he was physically present at the killing of Giannis Skaftouros in Skoúrta, Boeotia in April 2022, the double murder of Vasilis Roubetis and Dionysis Mouzakitis in Korydallos in June 2023, and the execution of Vangelis Zamounis, who was shot 33 times outside his gas station in Neos Kosmos in January 2024. International arrest warrants had been issued for Ilias across multiple felony cases before German police finally detained him. One day later, the Extortion Unit arrested a 49-year-old man in Paleo Faliro, Athens, linked to a crew called "Pit Bulls" or "Dogs." The group reportedly extorted nightclub owners and wealthy individuals across Attica and Mykonos, and recently smuggled two RPG-type rocket launchers from Russia to use against targets who refused to pay protection money. According to police sources, the crew had also beaten and extorted roughly one million euros from a wealthy individual shortly after the Skaftouros killing. Both men are connected to the organization run by a mob boss who goes by "Edik," a Russian-speaking crime figure who has been directing operations from Dubai for several years. Known to his crew as "The Voice," Edik manages tens of millions of euros per month from tobacco smuggling and extortion, conducting all business via phone calls. On July 27, however, Dubai police raided a villa and arrested Edik alongside his deputy, a man known as "Leonidas," described as being of Uzbek origin. Greek authorities say the Russian-speaking mafia network operating in Greece has been significantly weakened by these arrests. #OrganizedCrime #Greece #GreekPolice