Death of a 31-year-old police officer in Renti: Criminal organization consisting of 158 members – Searches in 58 houses and arrest of 60 people

“Our commitment to combating sports violence and overall lawlessness is absolute. We will continue to work with a plan and determination for the safety of citizens and peaceful coexistence in our society.” This was emphasized, among other things, by the Chief of ELAS, Lieutenant General Dimitris Mallios in his statement regarding the operation carried out today to arrest individuals who were involved in the deadly attack with a naval flare against the 31-year-old MAT police officer, Giorgos Lyggeridis, on December 7 2023 in Rentis.

As the Head of ELAS pointed out, in the last months an extensive investigation was conducted under extreme secrecy which “brought to light” the existence of a criminal organization behind the attack, while confirming the association of sports violence with organized crime.

According to Mr. Mallios, 60 people have been arrested so far, while 58 houses and 15 vehicles were searched. At the same time, the file that has been filed includes evidence of a criminal organization, consisting of 158 members, which operated mainly in Attica, Volos and Ioannina

The statement of the Leader of ELAS in detail:

In the last 4 months, the Sub-Directorate for Combating Violence in Sports Venues of the Attica Security Directorate, with the assistance of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, conducted an extensive investigation under the utmost secrecy to fully elucidate the criminal hooligan attack in the area of ​​Rentis, which resulted in the death of YAT police officer Georgios Lyggeridis.

As is already known, in order to solve this murderous attack, from the first moment, more than 400 prosecutions had been made, so that no conviction was lost, while one person had been arrested and brought to justice.

Subsequently, the case file compiled included testimony, video and other findings that demonstrated the existence of a criminal organization behind the attack, while confirming a link between sports violence and organized crime.

In particular, evidence emerged of a criminal organization, consisting of 158 members, which, at least since 2019, committed felony and misdemeanor criminal acts and operated mainly in Attica, Volos and Ioannina.

In order to dismantle the criminal organization in question, from the early hours of this morning, as part of the ongoing preliminary investigation, a wide-ranging police operation was carried out, with the assistance of the EKAM. and police dogs, resulting in the arrest of 60 people so far.

At the same time, 58 searches have been carried out in houses and 15 in vehicles and a number of persuasive items such as pistols, wooden bats, knives, drugs, clothing, digital media and others have been seized.

Our commitment to combating sports violence and overall lawlessness is absolute. We will continue to work with a plan and determination for the safety of citizens and peaceful coexistence in our society.”

Source: RES-MPE