Police report finds 510 organized crime groups active in 2024

Some 510 organized criminal groups were active in Greece in 2024, generating over €180 million through activities ranging from drug trafficking to fraud and smuggling, according to an annual police report released Monday.

The report said these criminal gangs contained 3,469 members.

The report said the groups were primarily involved in money laundering, drug trafficking, smuggling, arms trafficking, migrant smuggling, organized fraud, extortion and property-related crimes. Drug trafficking, fraud, theft and burglary, smuggling, and violations involving antiquities and intellectual property rights were identified as the most profitable activities.

Authorities said 52% of the criminal organizations were composed primarily of Greek nationals, while foreign groups accounted for 27%. Mixed groups containing both Greek and foreign members represented 21% of the total.

Among foreign criminal organizations, Bulgarian groups accounted for 29%, followed closely by Albanian groups at 26%, according to the report.

Most of the groups were relatively small, with up to five members, though nearly 10% had more than 12 members. The largest networks were mainly linked to theft and burglary, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Police also noted the growing use of new technologies by criminal groups to facilitate illegal operations and communicate with customers or potential victims.

Compared with 2023, burglaries fell by 8.8% and vehicle thefts declined by 6.1%, while robberies rose slightly by 3.9%, the report said.

Kathimerini