Theft, Kidnapping, Extortion – H.A.S. Found a Vortex with “VOR V ZAKONE” System

A transnational criminal organization was dismantled by the Property Crimes Department of the Attica Security Directorate, whose members committed robberies and burglaries in houses and warehouses in Attica and the province, while also engaging in kidnapping, extortion and usury cases.

In order to end their activity, on Friday (12/1), with the help of SDOE inspectors, an organized police operation was carried out in various areas of the center of Athens, and seven (7) foreigners were arrested. Six members of the criminal organization and one for participating in it.

A case was registered against them for crimes such as aggravated theft, participation in a criminal organization, accepting and distributing proceeds of crime, extortion by profession, extortion, extortion, violation of regulations – criminal organization. Violation of arms, narcotics and aliens and money laundering laws.

At the same time, as part of the operation, thirteen foreigners were brought in, seven of whom were subject to administrative deportation proceedings.

In particular, as revealed from the investigation, the aforementioned defendants have, at least since October 2022, established and joined a criminal organization that committed burglaries and thefts in houses and warehouses in various parts of Attica and the province. Also, its members were active in extortion, extortion and usury.

Organization “VOR V ZAKONE”

The organization was built into the framework of transnational criminal groups and Eurasian organized crime organizations (according to the International Glossary “VOR V ZAKONE”).

Those anointed with the specific title “VOR V ZAKONE (THIEF IN LAW)” are the leaders of the organizations, who honor all the members of the group and the relevant criminal organizations that operate in each country and follow specific codes of conduct. They obeyed the “laws” of criminal life and organized all their activities and interactions around it. The main characteristic of the organization is loyalty and devotion to the “team”, which is ensured by the fact that its members have a common national base.

In the hierarchy, an important place is occupied by the leader who is “crowned” as VOR, that is, he has received a title that makes him the undisputed leader and coordinator of the group. All the members of the group submit to him, giving him a full account of their criminal activities and continue to show their loyalty.

Leader and Hierarchy

The post of “VOR” chairman was held by the arrested person, who received information about the activities of the group at the level of criminal activities and at the level of the process of sending stolen goods to the market.

Indeed, the members of the group respected and feared him, and took special care if their actions displeased him. However, the leader's action did not stop with thefts but extended to threatening third parties and providing protection to his team members.

Another inmate in the next row, although occasionally held in detention facilities, continued to operate by providing the group's operatives with information about their chosen targets. He was involved in at least 18 break-in cases, and during his time in prison, he gave instructions to a member of the organization (and was arrested) on how to introduce drugs into the detention center, without being noticed.

Other members of the organization form its operational team, essentially street-level criminals, who work daily to achieve their objectives.

An important role in the functioning of the system was also played by a network of moneylenders who were active in obtaining illegal benefits. The stock was the seventh person arrested for setting up a money-lending “office” and accepting stolen goods.

In this way, the organization multiplied its profits, circulated large and small sums, and managed the gradual influx of illegal proceeds into the legal economy (“laundering”).

That way of working

As regards the modus operandi for carrying out acts of theft, it emerged that:

They first went to their chosen neighborhood and used their company cars to carry out surveys of the target houses and monitor the movement of residents. Apartments, they continued when these were broken, they kept in touch and spoke in coded terms about the area and apartments they wanted to operate in, with at least one member watching from the outside (chiliadors).

Characteristic of their professionalism is specific knowledge and expertise in different types of locks as they leave no visible traces of tampering when broken. At the same time, in order not to arouse suspicion, they received -4- “commercial” vehicles registered in the data of other persons.

Also, indicating their brutality and their involvement in parallel criminal activities, in October 2022, the leadership, another member of the organization, exerted certain psychological pressure on a member of the group, resulting in his suicide. With a sub-machine gun, members of the group do not hesitate to make threats, intimidation and kidnapping, to “comply” with third parties who do not cooperate with them and, above all, who do not pay their debts.

As part of house searches, the following were found and seized:

• 2,451 Euros
• 4 vehicles
• Pistol, revolver and flare gun
• Pepper spray
• The drug is 67.9 grams
• Number of bullets
• Many alcoholic drinks
• Portable computers
• Lots of cameras, cell phones, sim cards
• Shoes, handbags and clothes
• Various burglar tools and locks
• Knives, knives and many swords
• Paintings
• “VOR V ZAKONE” star engraved box
• Number of watches
• Many foods
• Banknotes of different countries
• Number of money transfer receipts

Arrested to prosecutor

A preliminary investigation revealed that members of a criminal organization were involved in the business, for which further investigation was conducted with the help of STOE inspectors. In the shops, a large number of agendas and decorations were found and confiscated, 1,336 liters of olive oil, several violations were confirmed.

Also, the aforementioned “office” was housed in an apartment building, which was found to have apartments – rooms, which served as a “shared” guest house and “studio” for foreigners. In these areas, -10- foreign women were found.

So far, -35- burglaries in houses and warehouses, one case of robbery and two cases of extortion have been solved, the illegal benefit they received was more than -200,000- euros.

Those arrested have been referred to competent counsel while investigations continue to ascertain the full extent of their criminal activities and the origin of the seized items, which are believed to be stolen.