A well-organized criminal operation has been dismantled by Greek authorities in Crete, after a months-long investigation led to the arrest of five individuals involved in smuggling thousands of rounds of ammunition from Albania into Greece. The suspects were apprehended following a coordinated police operation in Chania and Kastoria, orchestrated by the Anti-Organized Crime Unit of Crete and supported by officers from Northern Greece.
The gang, composed of four core members and an additional accomplice, is accused of illegally importing, trafficking, and distributing large quantities of ammunition across Crete. According to investigators, the group had been active since April 2025, using a sophisticated modus operandi to avoid detection.
Their method included placing orders for ammunition, sourcing it from an unknown Albanian supplier, and transporting it across the border via two vehicles — one of which was a specially modified truck equipped with a hidden compartment. Once the ammunition was picked up, it was transported back to Crete either by road or ferry, where it was sold on the black market.
Roles within the organization were clearly defined:
– A 65-year-old man acted as the ringleader, coordinating orders, overseeing pickups at the border, and managing sales across Crete using a motorcycle.
– A 72-year-old was responsible for modifying the truck’s hidden compartment and driving the car used by the ringleader during border trips.
– A 73-year-old served as the truck driver, shuttling between the border and Crete.
– A 41-year-old Albanian national secured the ammunition from his compatriot supplier and handed it over to the others upon arrival in Greece.
To evade law enforcement, the gang took strict precautions, including deactivating their mobile phones during transport, using false documents, and employing a truck registered under a deceased person (an aspect currently under investigation).
The arrests came after police caught the trio red-handed while retrieving 24,000 cartridges hidden inside the truck’s secret compartment. The 41-year-old suspect was detained in Kastoria, while a 30-year-old buyer was also arrested in Crete for previously purchasing ammunition from the gang leader.
In total, 24,126 cartridges, a military rifle, €900 in cash, and three vehicles — including a motorbike, a truck, and a passenger car — were seized during raids on homes and vehicles. Notably, the 65-year-old had been arrested before in 2019 for similar offenses and was already under court restrictions.
Authorities will now conduct forensic analysis on the seized weapons and ammunition, while the suspects are set to appear before the competent prosecutor.