Exarchia execution: 25-year-old Turk had criminal past – Turkish mafia is here
A 25-year-old Turkish man was shot dead near an Athens police station in what authorities believe was a criminal gang settling of accounts with Turkish roots.
In Exarcheia, a 25-year-old Turkish national was shot dead with five bullets while walking his dog on Kallidromio Street. The incident occurred just a few meters away from the local police station, with the perpetrator fleeing via the stairs leading to Strefi Hill.
The killer approached the victim at close range and shot him in the head. Police sources estimate that the murder is connected to a settling of accounts between criminal groups with roots in Turkey, which have extended their operations to Greece.
Officers from the Hellenic FBI are gathering video footage from the area and witness statements in an effort to identify the perpetrator. The victim had a serious criminal record in his homeland, with at least 130 case files for attempted homicides, burglaries with home invasions, and internet thefts.
Arrest of fugitive in Thessaloniki
During the same period, authorities arrested a 35-year-old Turkish man in Thessaloniki who was wanted internationally with an Interpol Red Notice. The operation took place on Friday, June 12, following a months-long investigation and exploitation of information.
Police officers, together with a judicial official, conducted home searches at two residences. The arrested man was located in an apartment on Amalias Street, in the city center. He faced a prison sentence of over 11 years for a series of offenses: escape, illegal carrying and possession of weapons, arms trafficking, grievous bodily harm, forgery, threatening with a weapon, disobedience, and illegal gambling.
Two other Turkish nationals were found with him and were brought in for questioning.
Thousands of pills and fake license plates
In the room used by the 35-year-old, police found a bag containing a large quantity of pharmaceuticals. Specifically, 1,547 tablets of Pregabalin 300 mg and 3,795 tablets of Lyrica 300 mg were seized, which were intended for distribution. They also took an iPhone for further examination.
In a second search at another residence of a Turkish national, two fake license plates were found. They corresponded to a vehicle that was parked outside the house without legal plates, following a traffic violation the previous month.
These incidents show that the activities of organized criminal networks from Turkey in Greek urban centers remain unchecked, with authorities attempting to respond through targeted operations.
