Mafia

In a dramatic turn of events, two Greek nationals connected to the notorious Greek Mafia have been detained in Dubai, raising questions about the reach and ramifications of organized crime across borders.

A confidential report authored by Greek security authorities charting the activity of the Turkish mafia in Greece has issued a stern warning about the risk of its being used as a tool by secret services. The multi-page report coincides with the recent arrest of armed Turkish mobsters in Greece on two separate occasions within the space of three days.

A Greek appeals court on Friday reduced the prison sentences of 11 men involved in trafficking 1.2 metric tons of cocaine from the Caribbean into Europe and Africa, in one of the biggest drug busts in Greece's history.

It appears that various criminal rackets have taken root in certain popular tourist destinations and that local authorities are in no position to deal with them effectively. This may stem from a lack of resources or from the fact that these rackets have grown so powerful that the local authorities simply cannot counter them.

Greek media have reported that Bulgarian and Russian mafia groups are active in the tourist regions of Northern Greece, specifically in Kavala, Thassos, and Halkidiki. According to a journalistic investigation, these criminal organizations have infiltrated local businesses, particularly nightclubs and tourist companies, often using fake identities to rent establishments.

Turkish authorities apprehended three internationally wanted criminals involved in multiple crimes, including drug trafficking, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on July 29.

The dilemma for the shopkeepers was clear: Either they would pay to have immunity from inspections or they would be forced to go to court every so often.

When I went to vote in my local village in Crete, a mother had brought her children with her. It was a sizzlingly hot morning, and I know they would much rather have been in the shady playground down the road. But their presence felt very right.

The 48-year-old Albanian leader was in trouble with the law in Turkey as well - 64-year-old Greek 'Pablo' was arrested for arms trafficking

The identities of four men, aged 20-23, belonging to a 12-member drug trafficking gang which was dismantled on April 26 by narcotics officers in Patra, western Greece, were made public on Wednesday.

According to police, the suspects are the four leading members of the gang, which is believed to have been peddling drugs at a school.