The Greek government has announced a sweeping crackdown on organised crime in Crete following a deadly shooting in the village of Vorizia that left two people dead and at least six injured, including a child.
Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis unveiled the measures at a press conference in Heraklion, pledging tougher penalties for illegal gun ownership and a permanent deployment of an elite organised crime unit on the island.
The unit, part of Greece’s Directorate for the Fight against Organised Crime, often compared to the FBI, will focus on dismantling criminal networks and curbing endemic violence.
“The glass is overflowing … no more bullies and local mafias in Crete,” Chrysochoidis declared, blaming “delinquent and anti-social behaviour, criminal groups that loot, bullies who think they are above the law, and rats in the state coffers who steal the fair labour of citizens” for the island’s unrest.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing the issue in his weekly review, called the Vorizia killings “a painful reminder of the work that remains to be done as a society,” describing the week as one “stained with blood” on his home island.
Crete has faced recurring gun violence in recent years, often tied to family disputes, property feuds, and organised criminal activity.
New legislative measures detailing enhanced penalties for illegal weapons are expected to be presented to parliament in the coming days.
