Greek police have apprehended 10 Turkish nationals and a Lebanese man during a series of operations aimed at dismantling organized crime networks in Athens and Thessaloniki.
The raids, conducted by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, targeted residences and meeting spots frequently used by Turkish citizens suspected of criminal activities.
In Artemida, Attica, officers discovered six Turkish nationals in a maisonette, where they seized 9.5 grams of raw cannabis. All six were arrested on the spot.
In a separate operation in Athens, a 24-year-old Turkish man was detained after police found 3 grams of cannabis in his possession.
A significant discovery was made in Thessaloniki, where a 39-year-old Turkish man was arrested in a rented house in Kardía.
Police, with the assistance of a sniffer dog, uncovered a cache of weapons and illegal items, including a pistol with a loaded magazine, five empty magazines, an air rifle with a scope, precision scales, small quantities of drugs, mobile phones, and SIM cards.
Additionally, officers found €790 in cash and a forged Turkish ID bearing the suspect's photograph but false personal details.
In another raid in Peraia, Thessaloniki, police detained a Turkish man and a Lebanese man for illegal residency in Greece.
While no drugs or weapons were found, their immigration violations led to their arrest.
During these operations, 12 additional Turkish nationals were taken in for questioning, further underscoring the extensive scope of the investigation.
The arrests highlight Greek authorities’ commitment to combating organized crime and ensuring public safety. Police are continuing their inquiries to determine if the suspects are part of larger criminal syndicates operating within Greece or internationally.