In spiral dislocation loan sharks and blackmailers operating at least from 2022 in Thessaloniki, proceeded the Sub-Directorate for the Treatment of Organized Crime in Northern Greece.
Police officers have already arrested four of the five members of the organization, including one of the two chiefs, and the other chief member has been identified and sought.
The operation that led to arrests took place on Tuesday with the delivery of 20,000 marked euros to one of the members of the spiral.
As ELAS announced, the arrested gave money at interest rates far above the legal limit while when their victims were unable to pay, not only did they put additional interest by prolonging payment dates but they were also blackmailed and subjected to psychological violence.
The members of the spiral were trying to hide their tracks by transferring money to their personal bank accounts, through companies they had recommended, by buying cars and online betting companies.
At the expense of those arrested aged 25, 30, 31, 33, 34 years old, a case-file was drawn up for – where applicable – the establishment, incorporation and direction of a criminal organisation, by profession of extortion and loan-launching, prevention and repression of money laundering from criminal activities, violation of legislation on amateur and professional sport, harmful drugs and violation of pharmaceutical legislation.
The announcement of ELAS
A criminal organization was dismantled by the Sub-Directorate for the Treatment of Organized Crime in Northern Greece, whose members were active in professional loan-launching activities and subsequent blackmail.
For the case were arrested, -4- by -5-members of the organization, including one of the two chiefs, and the other chief member is also identified and sought.
A case-file was drawn up against them for – where appropriate – the establishment, integration and direction of a criminal organisation, professionally extorting and loan sharks, preventing and combating money laundering from criminal activities, violating the laws on amateur and professional sport, harmful drugs and violating pharmaceutical legislation.
The investigation of the case began following a complaint, from which it emerged that the members of the organization were providing money on loan terms and in cases of inability to repay were committed to extortion and threatening actions, demanding enormous amounts of money from their victims.
A long and thorough investigation of police officers from the Department of Economic Crimes Division followed, from which it was established that the members of the organization, at least since June 2022 had formed a structured group with lasting action and defined roles, with a view to systematic execution of interest-developing acts and the deduction of illegal economic benefits.
In more detail, the defendants provided interest-bearing amounts, with interest rates exceeding the legal limit, while in cases of inability to pay the debtors they unilaterally extended the repayment deadlines, imposing additional interest and exerting heavy pressure on debtors, taking advantage of their financial need, in order to obtain unlawful financial benefits, disproportionate to the initially granted capital.
At the same time, it was found that the members of the organization were taking action that demonstrated an effort to legalise the proceeds obtained from their criminal activity. In particular, they carried out transfers of funds between personal bank accounts, as well as deposits, with a view to decoupling the money from their original illegal origin and hindering their detection, seeking to give them an image of legal certainty.
They also acquired movable property, mainly vehicles, without sufficient justification for the source of funding, based on their declared income, tax data and available banking data. In addition, they used online betting platforms, seeking the emergence of illegal money as winnings from gambling, while maintaining legitimate businesses through which they blended illegal revenue with legal income, transferring money to their respective corporate accounts, in order to integrate them into legal economic activity and cover business obligations.
The members of the organization had distinct roles, as follows:
– 31-year-old, who is sought, was one of the two chief members of the organization, coordinating the allocation of funds, which were granted on loan terms, as well as the process of collecting the required funds from the victims,
– 34-year-old, who was also a chief member of the organisation, participated in decision-making, on the management of claims, on the extension of repayment deadlines and the collection of the amounts due;
– 33-year-old, a member of the criminal organization, who participated in the loan-launching activity, obtaining financial benefit from its illegal activity,
– 30χρονος, είχε τον ρόλο του διαμεσολαβητή μεταξύ της οργάνωσης και των θυμάτων, αναλαμβάνοντας την παράδοση των χρηματικών ποσών, την είσπραξη των οφειλών και την απόδοσή τους στα υπόλοιπα μέλη, διατηρώντας μέρος των παράνομων εσόδων, ενώ διαπιστώθηκε ότι είχε προβεί και σε μεμονωμένες τοκογλυφικές πράξεις και
– 25χρονη, μέλος της οργάνωσης, η οποία έχοντας πλήρη γνώση της εγκληματικής της δραστηριότητας, υποβοηθούσε τη δράση της, συμμετέχοντας στην παραλαβή χρηματικών ποσών για λογαριασμό της οργάνωσης, ενώ παράλληλα μεσολαβούσε για την εξεύρεση ενδιαφερόμενων προσώπων προς χορήγηση χρημάτων με τοκογλυφικούς όρους.
In order to end the action of the criminal organisation, following proper utilization of the collected data, a police operation was organized on Tuesday 14 July 2026, in which the delivery of a marked amount of money of -20,000-euro was carried out, which, on the basis of an agreement between those involved, was intended to repay a outstanding debt. During the development of the operation, the 30-year-old received the marked amount of money and was then immobilised by the police. A physical investigation followed in which the indicated amount was seized.
Investigations were followed in houses, vehicles, as well as physical investigations, in which, among other things, they were found and seized:
–Ι.Χ.Ε. αυτοκίνητο, ως προϊόν νομιμοποίησης εσόδων από εγκληματικές δραστηριότητες,
-21– κινητά τηλέφωνα,
number of SIM cards,
-4- evidence of bank deposit,
-2-sale tariffs;
gambling card,
a portable computer,
tablet,
-2-professional banknote counters;
check sheet,
-3- receipts from a gambling game, with corresponding profit payment receipts, total value -8.875.29-EUR,
handwritten notes,
-167- tablets and -81- injectable vials of anabolic preparations,
-2-gold pounds and
the amount of -37,280-EUR.
Arrested persons were taken to the competent prosecutor.
