SKA revelation: How the Turkish mafia is using Greece as a transit point for 'ghost weapons'

Greek authorities have made significant progress in recent weeks in addressing organized crime networks operating within the country, particularly involving Turkish nationals. A major development occurred when a 28-year-old Turkish national was arrested in connection with the murder of a 25-year-old Turkish citizen in the Exarchia district of Athens on June 13. According to police reports, the suspect was apprehended on charges linked to drug offenses and illegal immigration. During the interrogation, he reportedly admitted to having been recruited in Istanbul to commit the act, receiving 18,000 euros as payment for what he described as a "contract killing." However, the exact motive behind the killing remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed whether other individuals are under investigation. The case continues to be probed by local law enforcement.

In addition to the murder investigation, another significant operation took place in the Thrace region, where two Turkish nationals were arrested for their involvement in the smuggling of firearms into Greece. The arrests were the result of an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Northern Greece Organized Crime Division. Officers targeted two trucks entering Greece through the Evros region's border crossings. One driver served as a scout, assessing potential threats from law enforcement, while the second vehicle transported the illicit cargo. During the search of the second truck, officials uncovered 50 vacuum-sealed pistols and 49 magazines hidden beneath the cab's bed and behind the driver's seat. These weapons were identified as "ghost guns," lacking serial numbers and thus extremely difficult to trace. The case shares similarities with past arms-smuggling operations investigated by the same division in 2025 and earlier this year. Both suspects now face charges related to organized crime and violations of Greece's weapons regulations, and they are expected to appear before a public prosecutor soon.

The issue of ghost guns has become increasingly prominent in Greece, with reports indicating that these weapons are frequently smuggled through the country en route to Central and Northern Europe. According to SKAI, a Greek media outlet, the Turkish mafia has established a network that facilitates the movement of these illegal firearms across borders. The report highlights how members of organized crime groups enter Greece illegally and use the country as a transit point for transporting ghost guns. These weapons are often manufactured in the Ikonium area, both in legal and illegal production facilities. Some are distributed to Turkish criminal organizations active in Greece, but the majority are destined for the European market. The economic incentive is substantial, with a weapon costing between 200 and 350 euros in Turkey potentially fetching up to 3,000 to 3,500 euros in Europe.

The smuggling routes typically pass through Greece and Bulgaria, sometimes extending to Romania. Ghost guns are commonly transported in specially designed compartments within international freight trucks. In early 2025, fifteen Turkish nationals were caught attempting to cross the border near the village of Tyche in the Evros region. Their belongings included personal items and three bags containing 147 pistols and weapon parts. These individuals claimed they had been instructed by a smuggler to deliver the weapons to someone waiting in Greece. The weapons resemble well-known brands such as Glock and Browning but are actually precise replicas known as "phantom guns" within law enforcement circles. These replicas lack manufacturer markings and serial numbers, making them nearly impossible to trace back to their origin.

Recent operations have led to the seizure of numerous ghost guns in Greece. For instance, in a central Athens apartment where two Turkish nationals were arrested at the end of 2024, detectives discovered 49 phantom guns stored in a single suitcase. All of these were replicas of Glock pistols. Experts note that many of these weapons share identical serial numbers, a feature absent in authentic firearms. Additionally, there are no visible signs of manufacturing origins or identifiers that would allow for easy identification. This phenomenon extends beyond Greece, with similar cases reported in Spain and Bulgaria. In March 2025, Europol coordinated a joint operation with Spanish and Bulgarian authorities, resulting in the seizure of seven Frankenstein-type weapons composed of both real and fake components, including silencers, hand grenades, and large quantities of narcotics. Eighteen individuals were arrested during this operation, suspected of transporting weapons from Turkey to Catalonia and returning with loads of hashish.

Europol's head of the Weapons and Explosives Unit, Leon Kersbergen, emphasized the close ties between the networks involved in the trafficking of weapons and drugs. He noted that these weapons have been used in armed attacks across several EU member states, including Spain, France, Sweden, and Belgium. The increasing prevalence of ghost guns in Greece underscores the need for enhanced cooperation among European countries to combat the growing threat posed by these illicit weapons. As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant against the activities of organized crime groups seeking to exploit the region's vulnerabilities for their illegal enterprises.