Major police operation in Crete – Family gangs, drugs, and OPEKEPE
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At the center of the investigation are two criminal groups – families at their core, with a common link, while the case also has significance regarding OPEKEPE as new “explosive dialogues” reportedly emerged.
- 21 Μαΐου 2026 10:53
Nearly 200 police officers are participating in the large operation ongoing since the early hours of Thursday (21/5) in Zoniana, in Kalo Chorio of the Hersonissos Municipality, in Malevizi, and in various areas across the Heraklion, Rethymno, and Lasithi prefectures, focusing on drug trafficking. In total, 22 searches were conducted in homes and livestock farms across the three prefectures of Crete.
According to information from Cretalive.gr, this is a multi-layered and complex police operation due to the numerous “targets” and the necessity to conduct simultaneous searches on suspects and residences to prevent leaks, escapes, and destruction of evidence.
The operation is supervised and coordinated by the Heraklion Subdivision for Drug Enforcement, with participation from officers of the Heraklion Crime Investigation Subdivision, members of EKAM Crete, OPKE, and the TAE units of Mylopotamos, Messara, and Heraklion. Local media report that the case had been worked on for months by the Drug Enforcement Unit, with the main suspects forming two criminal groups—families at their core, connected by a common link.
The case is also reportedly significant in terms of OPEKEPE, as during the ongoing investigation over these months, “explosive dialogues” emerged from a resident of Zoniana in anticipation of an upcoming livestock counting inspection declared by his wife.
