Drones and Mobile Operations Lead to the Arrest of Turkish Mob Boss in Rhodope – Planned Escape to Bulgaria

In recent days, a 49-year-old Turkish national, who was under police surveillance, was arrested last Saturday (31.05.2025) in a village in the mountainous Rhodope region. This individual is the same person who fired at members of the National Intelligence Service (EYP) last Tuesday (27.05.2026) in Thessaloniki. The Turkish mob boss had been hiding and had moved to the Rhodope village near the Greek-Bulgarian border with the intention of fleeing abroad. Police drones played a crucial role in locating him after an organized operation led to his arrest in Rhodope while he aimed to escape through difficult trails to avoid detection. During initial questioning, the suspect claimed that he had left the vehicle used during the attack in Asprovalta near Thessaloniki, but it has not yet been found. The Turkish mobsters are reportedly part of a gang called ‘Daltons,’ involved in drug trafficking, murders, and extortion. The suspect is expected to be transferred to Thessaloniki for formal charges. The timeline of events reminds us that on Tuesday afternoon, three Turks opened fire on EYP officers during a covert surveillance operation in Thessaloniki. Around 16:00, an unmarked jeep stopped near a gas station, and its occupants fired at another vehicle carrying members of the National Intelligence Service. The perpetrators realized they were being followed and retaliated by stopping and firing at the second vehicle. EL.AS officers arrived at the scene and collected evidence.