A high-ranking officer in Greece’s Narcotics Division, known for driving a luxury Lamborghini, has been arrested after being implicated in a cocaine trafficking scandal.
The 42-year-old lieutenant was arrested on Thursday following an investigation by the Internal Affairs Service of the Hellenic Police (ELAS). The officer is accused of leaking sensitive police operations to major drug dealers in exchange for bribes.
The investigation began after Europol, Europe’s law enforcement agency, shared crucial data with Greek authorities from an international operation that intercepted encrypted communications via the Sky ECC app. Between 2020 and 2021, law enforcement agencies in France, Belgium and the Netherlands successfully cracked the encrypted messaging app, used by criminals worldwide, and passed on their findings to national police forces.
In October 2022, Greek authorities received files showing that the arrested officer, while in charge of the Narcotics Division, had provided information to drug cartels, compromising key investigations. Despite initial findings being severe, the case was inexplicably archived in January 2024, just before significant reshuffles in the police department. However, a review of the case prompted by concerns from Europol officials led to a reopening of the investigation.
Alongside the arrest of the 42-year-old officer, two other current police officers are facing charges in connection with the case. One is accused of mishandling the investigation, and the other is linked to conversations with drug traffickers via the Sky ECC app. Both officers face misdemeanor charges.
The investigation also implicates two civilians, believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, and an Albanian inmate recently convicted for his role in a 2020 cocaine importation operation.
Notably, the arrested officer had been criticized for his lavish lifestyle, including his possession of the expensive Lamborghini.
He had been moved from sensitive positions in recent months, likely due to the ongoing investigation.