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Greek police busted three criminal organizations involved in a number of cases of drug trafficking, pimping, forgery and money laundering, possession and trade in arms. As part of a coordinated operation in Thessaly, so far arrested are 48 people and legal action is being taken against 220 people, of which 18 are senior figures. Their activities also included a "contract killing" of a jailed prisoner, and also an armed ambush of a policeman. 

Busting the criminal gang happened because of the cooperation between the Department of Drugs in the city of Larissa and the Department for combating specific crimes. 

Authorities found a trail of the criminals after several months of investigation, thanks to a “bug” used by the National Intelligence Service, which monitors and records communications between the criminals. 

During the massive police raid was conducted across Thessaly, but also in Athens and Thessaloniki. It involved over 100 police officers and eight prosecutors who carried out searches of homes, warehouses and other facilities and detained 48 people, including 2 foreigners. 

Upon police investigation it became clear that involved were also four people, who serve time in Koridalos prison and the prisons in Larissa and Patra. 

At a press conference given by the Chief Director of Police in Thessaly General-Major Vassilios Halatsis, police chief in Larissa Brigadier-General Simeon Ofidis and the Head of the Department for Drugs - Larissa Christos Kalousios, announced were details of the arrests and the activities of the criminal gangs and their members. 

Meanwhile the detainees appeared before the magistrate, who because of the number of prisoners arrived at the main police headquarters in Larissa. All asked for time to prepare their defense next week. Most of the detainees come from the town of Larissa. 

The Chief Police Officer in Thessaly said that this is a first of its kind venture in the history of the Greek police. 

As to the "murder contract ", Vassilios Halatsis explained that the boss of the largest of the three groups (numbering 105 people) has made a deal with a prisoner, serving a sentence, to kill his cellmate, responsible for the death of his relative. 

Halatsis called "shocking" the way the murder was planned, which should have taken place during the transportation of the prisoners from jail to the courthouse in a special car. The killer was supposed to hit the victim in the bars of the vehicle and subsequently justify that the "incident" occurred due to the abrupt stop of the car. 

As the conversations were tapped by the police, all necessary measures were taken and, ultimately, the prisoner-victim was tried without any problems. 

Members of the same group focused on a police officer from the Department of Drugs - Larissa, one "of the experienced and very good officers ", as mentioned by Vassilios Halatsis in order to set up an armed ambush. 

Incidentally, before the investigation in question, suspicious activity was spotted in front of the home of the policeman, and any assault was prevented. Subsequently, when the investigation began, it was found became clear that an ambush was organized. 

So far during the investigation, carried out throughout the region of Thessaly region, were discovered and seized: 

- Different amounts of drugs (cocaine, heroin, cannabis, cannabis seeds, drug tablets) 

- Weapon (two (2) guns with silencers, an air rifle, silencer for air rifle, one (1) rifle, knives and an iron box) 

- Forty-three (43) cars and one (1) motorcycle, used to distribute drugs. 

- Eighty-eight (88) mobile phone and eleven (11) SIM cards 

- The sum of 32,530 euros in all types of bank notes 

- Two (2) fake stamps, fake certificates. 

Since the several month police investigation began, clear is the following: 

- Established are the members of each criminal organization, the vehicles used by its members, their addresses and other premises that were used. 

- Clarified are the roles and hierarchical relationship of the members of each gang (senior figures - contractors, etc.). 

- Their way of working was clarified - their method of operation (modus operandi) and their linkages. 

- All actions of the criminal groups were recorded with a tape recorder and meetings with their bosses were confirmed. 

- Established are their businesses outside their main criminal activities (trade and drug trafficking), and other crimes. 

Finally, examined is the legalization of proceeds from their illegal activities in cooperation with the competent investigating authorities. 

Legal action is being taken after the establishment of all members, their hierarchy and how they work: 

In particular: 

The first criminal group 

This organization consists of one hundred and five (105) members, including 96 Greeks (83 males and 13 females) and 9 foreigners (7 men and 2 women). 

Furthermore, the "brain" of the group were eight (8) senior figures, including two (2) women, while others are basic and ordinary members. Four (4) of the eight leading figures serve sentences in different jails. 

All together they were either involved or have committed the following offenses: 

- Sale and trafficking of all kinds of drugs (heroin, cocaine, etc.). 

- Possession and trade of firearms. 

Within the ongoing police investigation for criminal activity of the specific group being studied are: 

- The creation of false documentation (medical notes), certifying the existence of drug dependence in order to receive more lenient treatment by the judicial authorities and not to be arrested 

- Participation of members of the criminal groups in women trafficking for prostitution. 
- Participation of the group members and others in the planned armed ambush against a police officer from the Department for Combating Drugs - Larissa. 

The second criminal group 

It consists of eighty-eight (88) main members, of whom eighty-three (83) are Greek (72 males and 11 females) and 5 foreigners (3 males and 2 females). 

Except for the "brain" of the group, there were five (5) senior figures, including one (1) woman, while others are basic and ordinary members. 

All together they were engaged in trade and trafficking of drugs (cannabis and cocaine). 

Within the ongoing police investigation into the activities of the particular criminal group, examined is the participation of its members in women trafficking for prostitution. 

The third criminal group 

It consists of twenty-four (24) core members, of whom twenty-three (23) are Greek, men, and one (1) foreigner. 

Except for the "brain" of the group, there were another four (4) senior figures, while others are basic and ordinary members. 

All together they were engaged in drugs trade and trafficking (cocaine). 

The forty-eight (48) arrested from the three criminal groups will be brought before the prosecutor in the town of Larissa. 

The police investigation, which continues until the establishment of more criminal acts, are performed by the Drug Division of the Police Directorate in the town of Larissa.