Greece Goes Gangbusters, Chasing the Mob to Stop Violence

ATHENS – Code named Mani Pulite – an Italian anti-corruption 1990s operation meaning “Clean Hands” - Greek anti-mob teams are going to target organized crime in the country after a spate of violent incidents and murders.

That comes after a report on the structure and operation of Greece’s powerful criminal groups, a 100-page document prepared by security services and given to Supreme Court prosecutor Vassilis Pliotas by Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, said Kathimerini.

What sparked it now seems to be the still unsolved gunning down of investigative journalist Giorgos Karaivaz outside his Athens home, shot dead by a man on the back of a two-person motorcycle, who then got off and delivered two final bullets to the head to finish him off.

The report, the paper said, identifies at least 20 protection rackets, three in Attica, but also in Patra, Agrinio, Zakynthos, Kalamata and the popular tourist island of Mykonos, notorious for tax evasion and flouting the law.

Pliotas is expected to order a preliminary inquiry into the case so that investigators can have access to suspects’ telephone conversations and banking transactions, indicating that talks were being tapped.

That was in the works before a young mother was suffocated to death which police reportedly believe was tied to foreign gangs that operate openly in Greece, particularly Albanian-led and using Georgians and gypsies particularly.

Greek police are also focusing on a string of murders tied to organized crime and gangsters who had been imprisoned but some 500 or more said to be released without an explanation given why or who authorized it.

Cases in the file include death contracts, murder, extortion, pimping, drugs and more records of criminal activity, the paper said, with unnamed ministry officials saying that minister was spurred by mob killings and attacks.

Chrysochoidis has urged Pliotas to strengthen cooperation with local prosecutors, the paper said, part of an apparent aim to try to coordinate efforts in dealing with organized crime as well as the foreign gangs.

There will also reportedly be a review of the parole process which had let so many violent offenders out of jail although it wasn't said why they were or over which period of time.