One of three suspects linked to the so-called Turkish mafia and wanted for a recent armed attack on Greek intelligence agents has been arrested in a remote village in the Rhodope mountains. The arrest followed a police operation conducted early Saturday morning, according to reports from ERT.
The incident occurred last Tuesday afternoon in Thermi, Thessaloniki, during an undercover surveillance operation by the National Intelligence Service (EYP). Three individuals in a vehicle opened fire on a car carrying EYP officers, apparently believing they were being followed by members of a rival criminal group. One assailant fired three shots, one of which struck the driver’s door. The EYP officers did not return fire, and no injuries were reported.
Authorities have identified the assailants as members of a violent Turkish criminal gang known as the “Daltons,” allegedly involved in contract killings and other organized crime activities in Athens and Thessaloniki. Surveillance had been ongoing prior to the attack.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly clashes in Greece since September 2023 involving Turkey-based criminal organizations with 10 people killed in the process, all alleged gang members that fell victim to “turf wars” that have spilled over from Turkey into Greece and western Europe.
In response, police launched a nationwide manhunt, including border closures to prevent the suspects from fleeing the country. A total of six Turkish nationals were arrested, though none were connected to the shooting. Three of those arrested were found in possession of small quantities of drugs, and one was arrested for weapons violations.
So far, 20 police operations have resulted in 60 targeted raids and approximately 100 arrests. Authorities believe roughly 200 individuals linked to Turkish organized crime are operating in Greece.
