Four Greek police officers face charges for allegedly running a sophisticated drug trafficking operation, it was made public on Friday. The law enforcement officers are officially accused of using seized narcotics from official raids to sell them on the black market and make millions of euros in profit.
How the Greek Police officers operated
The official report paints a picture of a highly organized criminal ring, and not a one-off incident. The officers, one of whom previously worked in the Narcotics Division, are believed to have teamed up with three civilians to organize their illegal activities. Together, they allegedly trafficked significant amounts of illegal drugs, managing to earn over five million euros ($5,8M) in profits over several years during which they operated undetected.
This shocking case came to light after an internal affairs investigation of Greece’s Police (ELAS) was initiated following a complaint from a citizen. Greek Police investigators uncovered a trail of incriminating messages on encrypted apps like Signal and Viber. Even with attempts to erase the evidence, digital forensics and telecommunications data helped authorities retrieve critical messages and figure out the way this criminal network operated.
The alleged ringleader, a police lieutenant, reportedly orchestrated drug deliveries, transactions and cash payments. Between 2018 and 2023, his personal bank account saw unexplained deposits exceeding three million euros that could not be justified by his employment and possessions.
His partner’s account also reportedly held an additional one million euros, amounts far beyond their declared earnings to Greece’s tax authorities.
Greek media reported that the law enforcement officers and their accomplices trafficked drugs that had been officially recorded as seized and stored securely by law enforcement. This raises serious questions about the security and transparency of Greece’s evidence-handling procedures, as these people obviously had access to these seized drugs.
The seven suspects—four police officers and three civilians—have been charged with forming and participating in a criminal organisation, drug trafficking and breach of duty. Authorities are still searching for one more individual believed to be involved, who hasn’t been arrested yet.
This incident is one of the most serious scandals to hit Greek law enforcement recently, fueling persistent public concerns about internal corruption within the ranks of Greece’s Police Force.
The country’s Ministry for Citizen Protection, which oversees the police force, has promised full cooperation and transparency, vowing to strengthen internal oversight and accountability within the police force.
Similar scandals have rocked public trust on Greece’s police, as this is not the first time something like that comes to light. In 2023, another police officer was accused of selling drugs using his patrol car, eventually being spotted and brought to justice.
