Komotini: DAOE’s Ghost Weapons and Turkish Death Squad Tentacles

An exceptionally serious case of international arms trafficking that unfolded in the heart of Rodopi is being brought to light through the cooperation of Greek law enforcement authorities with revelations from the Turkish press (Odatv, soL Haber, Sabah, A Haber).

The Northern Greece Organized Crime Unit (D.A.O.E. / the “Greek FBI”) proceeded with the arrest of two individuals in Thrace, seizing a large shipment of illegal “ghost guns.”

At the same time, Turkish media outlets, analyzing the case file documents, speak of dismantling a “dirty scheme” (kirli tezgah) and reveal shocking details about the two “new generation” criminal organizations in Turkey behind the shipment: the Daltonlar (Daltons) and the Bayğaralar (Bayğaralar). These are crime syndicates that thrive on drug trafficking, extortion, and assassinations, extending their tentacles from the poor neighborhoods of Constantinople and Adana all the way to Western Europe.

The Timeline of the Operation in Rodopi and the Arrests

The operation was organized with absolute secrecy by the Department for Combating Human and Goods Trafficking and Smuggling of D.A.O.E., following intelligence that was exploited in Thessaloniki.

• The raid near Komotini: Officers immobilized a suspect vehicle in the wider Komotini area. In a search conducted in the trunk, a black travel bag was discovered containing 25 Glock-type pistols and 25 magazines, carefully wrapped in nylon bags for protection from moisture.

• The profile of the weapons: The seized items are “ghost guns”, as they lack factory markings, brand names, or serial numbers, being completely untraceable. According to the Turkish network A Haber, these weapons were destined for carrying out bloody attacks (kanlı eylemler) in Europe. Authorities are examining the close connection of this shipment with a previous seizure of 147 similar pistols in the same area, due to identical packaging.

• The “tentacle” in Evros: From the preliminary investigation, a 43-year-old Greek man was arrested in Alexandroupoli, who allegedly handed over the vehicle and the weapons to the 29-year-old driver (who confessed that he would receive a fee of 300 euros to transport the bag to Komotini, indicating as the mastermind a man named “Mehmet”). The 43-year-old supplier has been arrested two other times since 2012 for migrant smuggling.

Who are the “Daltonlar” and “Bayğaralar” gangs that are shocking Turkey

The information provided by Turkish media about the organizations mentioned in the Greek police documents is terrifying, as it reveals a “new generation” mafia that uses the internet and recruits underage children:

1. Daltonlar (The Daltons)

Led by Beratkan Gökdemir (known as “Can Dalton”), for whom Turkish authorities are seeking a prison sentence of 711 to 1,281 years for murders, extortion, and forming a criminal organization.

• Their tactics: Unlike traditional mafia, the “Daltons” maniacally use social media to display power.

• The death “squads”: They use “motorcycle teams” as executioners, recruiting young people with the promise of easy wealth. Their track record includes cases of global scope, such as the mafia execution of international drug baron Jovan Vukotić in Constantinople (September 2022).

2. Bayğaralar (The Bayğaralar)

This criminal organization is based in Adana and is run by Ramazan Bayğara.

• The history: The gang suffered a heavy blow in Turkey when, after a raid on 403 addresses, 106 members were arrested and AK-47 Kalashnikovs and hand grenades were seized.

• The “thriller” in Greece: The leader, Ramazan Bayğara, who was wanted under an Interpol red notice, had been arrested in Greece. Despite the fact that his extradition to Turkey had been announced, the Greek judicial authorities released him under restrictive conditions (house arrest), a fact that caused intense discussions in the neighboring country.

Editor’s Comment

The official announcement from the Hellenic Police in absolute conjunction with the revelations of the Turkish networks brings to the surface a highly concerning geopolitical dimension: Thrace as a transit corridor for extremely serious, non-traceable weapons (“ghost guns”) with the final destination being the international mafia. The fact that these weapons lack factory markings shows professional organization and raises serious questions about their source of origin, but also about the scale of criminal activities unfolding quietly in the border region.

A particularly critical detail emerging from the timing of the ring’s operation is that the smugglers apparently attempted to exploit the days of the Bayram festive holidays. The choice of this specific time period, during which traffic on the road networks and border stations of Thrace is traditionally increased and control mechanisms are under tremendous pressure due to thousands of visitors, shows that the ring operated based on a well-studied plan, betting on the relaxation of controls.

The involvement of a flagged migrant smuggler from Evros, who delivers the shipment in Komotini, highlights the merger of criminal networks: the same corridors used for human smuggling are now being transformed into heavy weapons supply lines for the “new generation” of Turkish mafia. When organizations like the “Daltons” and “Bayğaralar” appear in the case documents, it becomes clear that Thrace is in danger of being transformed into a transit corridor for international serious crime. D.A.O.E.’s success is significant, but the border region needs immediate technological and personnel reinforcement before these structures take root in our local communities.

• Source: D.A.O.E. (Northern Greece Organized Crime Unit) / Report by TaxiarhisPRESS, Odatv.com, soL Haber, Sabah, Ahaber.com.tr

Source: TAXIARCHISpress

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