The "head" of the Cretan mafia was talking to the former Greek Minister of Defense, asking him to appoint a metropolitan at the head of the Church

2025-09-02 17:07:15Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The "head" of the Cretan mafia was talking to the former Greek

The case file related to the so-called "Cretan mafia" includes conversations between the former Greek Minister of Defence, Panos Kammenos, and one of the defendants.

Panos Kamenos, who according to information from the Greek media is connected to one of the main figures of the criminal organization, was talking about this person's attempt to install a specific person on the throne of the Metropolitan.

Specifically, in the recordings of the "interceptor" of the Greek Police, the defendant is heard asking the former minister to mediate for the election of Archimandrite Melchizedek to the position of Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apocorona, a religious position.

In the part of the case file that has already been sent to the competent authorities and which concerns the usurpation and sale of the land belonging to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Hania and later the blackmail so that the Monastery does not claim back the usurped area of 175 acres.

"One of the accused as big minds of the Cretan mafia is revealed to have contacts with a certain Archimandrite, Melchizedek, who has the ambition to be elected metropolitan of Kydonia and Apocorona, elections scheduled to take place in October. In fact, according to the case file, the accused, in order to mediate for the election of this particular Archimandrite, asks him for a valuable part of the Holy Bones of St. Lazarus that the priest is in possession.

On August 12, the defendant communicates with Panos Kammenos on the phone. He tells him about the archimandrite and claims to have been accepted by the Patriarchate, the American base in Hania and others. He does not forget to emphasize to Mr. Kammenos that archimandrite is a particularly loving and friendly person. In fact, he takes the opportunity and asks the former minister to contact the archimandrite himself, but Mr. Kammenos refuses direct communication at the allotted time and tells the accused hotelier to convey to the archimandrite his assurance that if the elections depend on the American factor, they will happen," the file states.

The Greek police have arrested a total of 49 people, suspected of being part of a mafia network that dealt with drug trafficking, weapons and other illegal activities.

According to the authorities, the investigations started from a common case of drug trafficking, but then numerous links were discovered that included arms trafficking, including Kalashnikov-type weapons.

Hellenic Police spokeswoman Constantia Dimoglidou said this was a network with many "tentacles" and organized structure. According to her, at the head of the organization were two businessman brothers, who received most of the income.

According to the investigation file, the organization had a turnover of almost 3 million euros. About 1.1 million euros came from drug trafficking, while the rest came from other criminal activities.


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