Zoniana area becomes a battlefield

[Ellinas]

The police and EKAM have launched an extensive search operation in Zoniana, Rethymno, after a convoy of police cars on their way to the village to search for drugs was attacked Monday by gunmen. Three special guards serving on Crete were injured. Greek Police chief Anastasios Dimoshakis and Police Inspector for Southern Greece Lieutenant General Christos Drakopoulos have already arrived at the crime scene to coordinate the operations. The whole area has been cordoned off, with the policemen scouring the place. Special guard Efstathios Lazaridis, 25, shot in the neck, underwent a surgery at the Heraklion Hospital. The other two special guards, who were transferred to the Rethymnon Hospital, suffered minor injuries. While visiting the two special guards, Dimoshakis termed the incident as unprecedented for the Greek standards, clashing with both Crete’s history and the Greek culture. "The Greek Police will assume its responsibilities. We have to implement legitimacy," concluded he.

Sanidas Intervenes


Supreme Court Prosecutor G. Sanidas ordered the police forces to complete their investigation at Zoniana, asking in parallel from the Deputy Prosecutor in Rethymno to see that the culprits are discovered.

Meanwhile, 75 EKAM (Special Anti-terrorism Unit) men on a C 130 cargo aircraft landed in Crete on Monday evening. Their orders are to keep law and order at Zoniana and search for arms.

At the same time, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos has contacted the 25-year-old guard’s family and ordered the police to transfer any close members of the guard’s family to Crete.

On the occasion of the attack, KKE (Greek Communist Party) issued a written announcement, pointing out that the organized underworld enjoys the support of strong back up.

SYRIZA (Coalition of Radical Left) also released an announcement, offering its sympathy to the injured police officers, wishing them speedy recovery.
"Police has to place emphasis on issues pertaining to the citizens’ protection from similar attacks and combat the trade in precursor drugs. Such activities do not reflect the society of the Crete, which is bound to stand up to similar violent cases," concluded the announcement.

The Bloody Incident

The case goes back to last Friday, when a 24-year-old man was arrested in Rethymno, while his cousin managed to escape. Both men had in their possession a substantial amount of hashish and cocaine. Heraklion police asked for aid from the police in Rethymno in order to search the homes of the arrested man and his cousin, who is wanted in Zoniana. A police convoy of 12 4x4 with over 40 policemen set off for Zoniana, where about 500 metres out of the village they received a barrage of fire, from Kalashnikof assault rifles by gunmen, who injured the three special guards.

ERT

[Prokomenos]

So are they dealing with Greeks or foreigners?

[Ellinas]

They are all Cretans, drug cultivators and dealers, no foreigners there. Zoniana area is famous for the hashish plantation. It is one of the biggest drug-providers of Athens.

The last decades the area of Zoniana is like an area where laws don't work. There is no police station or other police presense there. A few years ago a police helicopter that approached the area was shot.

It looks like this was the first time a police convoy was sent to the area for investigations and they had this incident.

They say that EKAM has the area surrounded right now, ready to put an end in the whole story, but let's see. It is doubtful if the government has the guts to go against the big drug dealers and their interests. Even Parliament members are involved in the Zoniana drug dealing.

[Prokomenos]

Katalava gamiseta.....

[Ellinas]

Manhunt Proves Fruitless


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The manhunt launched for the location of the gunmen that ambushed Monday a group of police officers searching for drug runners in the village of Zoniana, Rethymno, has yielded no results so far. Special Anti-Terrorism Unit men, who have been on Crete since Monday, have been engaged in the search operation, assisting the local police forces. Police’s strategy on the issue dominated the meeting Greek Police chief Anastasios Dimoshakis chaired Tuesday morning in Herakleion.

In the meantime, special guard Efstathios Lazaridis, who was shot in the neck, is still in a critical condition, after undergoing late on Monday a surgery at the Herakleion hospital. The other two special guards who sustained minor injuries are being treated at the Rethymno hospital. While visiting Monday the two slightly wounded officers, Anastasios Dimoshakis termed the incident as unprecedented for the Greek standards, clashing with both Crete’s history and the Greek culture. "The Greek Police will assume its responsibilities. We have to implement legitimacy."

Pavlopoulos’ Statements

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos put down the crime to the lack of prompt measures and cover-up. He underlined that justice and police will do their job, yet it is the state that has to step up the measures that had to be taken, stressing that there is political will and mandate.
Pavlopoulos conveyed the Prime Minister’s heartfelt sympathy to the special guard battling for his life, while he avoided commenting on whether there are long-standing political responsibilities. "There has been a lack of interventions on the part of the state authorities and police for years, and that is the responsibility," argued he. Speaking to journalists shortly after, he noted that having four guys with Kalashnikovs ridiculing the state is beyond belief.

Rethymno Prefect

"It grieved us that our estimations proved right, and we will keep closely monitoring the state authorities’ efforts to implement the measures we have proposed," said Rethumno Prefect Giorgis Papadakis, who went on stressing: "Everything resulted from the administratively, socially and politically rigid and sick perception that handles criminality in a such sloppy manner, especially by some high-ranking police officers who have repeatedly been called to assess the problem and address it." Papadakis then went to call on the Interior Minister to have criminality promptly addressed.


The Zoniana Community President Mayor Kostas Parasyris condemned the incident, underlining that the vast majority of the residents are easy-going and peace-loving.

"We all blast what happen in Zoniana, and which it did not come out of the blue. The state authorities stand idle" former Public Order Minister Christos Markogiannakis told NET radio station. He further noted that attacks on police officers had been reported in the same area, with one having been kept captive for several days.

"The incident in Zoniana is a shame on us. It is a deep-rooted problem," Conservative cadre Olga Kefalogianni told NET radio station, commenting that there is the political will to address the problem, as she herself realized after meeting Deputy Interior Minister Panayiotis Chinofotis.

[Ellinas]

25 arrests in massive attacks of the police in the villages of Zoniana area. Many weapons and hasish plants were found in houses of the area:


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[Ellinas]

Search operation continues


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The search operation in the village of Zoniana entered day three. New evidence is coming into light, giving the infringing behaviour in the area mammoth proportions. A new police raid carried out Friday morning at the mountainous area of Mylopotamos revealed 38 cannabis-filled sacks and two stolen vehicles. In the meantime, three arrestees charged with felonies were referred to the Prosecutor, while another seven are standing a trial in Rethymno. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis sent a stern message, arguing, "Laws apply to all. No one is excluded."

Cannabis-Filled Sacks Found

Police officers have been scouring the mountainous areas of Mt Psiloritis for three days running, leaving no stone unturned in pens, caves, storehouses and gorges.
A police helicopter flying above the area located 38 sacks filled with cannabis and two burnt cars in a gorge off the village of Zoniana. Furthermore, luxurious cars were found intact in a rural area.

It remains to be seen whether the burnt cars, the motorbikes and some parts from ATM bank machines also found in the area are related to bank robberies reported in several Cretan towns over the last year.

Three residents arrested for drug possession and cannabis cultivation were referred Friday to the Prosecutor. The one accused of possessing 500g of cannabis was given until Saturday noon to testify, while the one accused of cultivating 43 cannabis trees was remanded in custody. The Prosecutor has yet to decide on the third arrestee.

In the meantime, the seven people accused of weapon and drug possession are standing a trial in Rethymno. Security outside the premises of the court hall is tight with a view to averting clashes.

By the decision of the Parents and Guardians Association, the school in Zoniana did not operate on Friday.

A high-ranking police officer in charge of the search operation said that the people of Zoniana is responding positively to the presence of the police, wishing for a permanent police force in their area.

Special police forces will not leave the place until order is restored and the gunmen who attacked the police convoy are hunt down.

Stern Message

Speaking from the Parliament podium, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis underlined that the Government will show zero tolerance to unlawful actions and corruption cases, making it clear that the search operation will get to the bottom.

"Nobody should be disillusioned. Laws apply to all, no matter who they are, no matter where they are," said he, also adding, "Corruption and civil disobedience cases will not be tolerated. We are vehemently opposed, and this is a major difference between the past and the present."

Earlier, Socialist MP and former Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis had blasted the Conservative Government for abolishing the committees of inquiry the Government itself had called for.

"When you make such accusations, but you stop as soon as you assume office, what do you expect the stock breeders of Psiloritis Mt to do? Is it them who will cement the values and principles of a modern democratic state?" Kaklamanis wondered.

ERT

[Ellinas]

Research in Most Incredible Spots

In the Wider Area of Zoniana

Police investigation continues with lighting operations launched by police authorities in 2 homes of Anogia area. More specifically, 2 special anti terrorist men excluded Anogia district near the Medical Center. During the night special police forces protected the police department of Anogia after information received by police officers speaking of a possible attack launched by unidentified people. Finally, police authorities started researches in the building of Biological cleaning in order to find out if any weapons or drugs are hidden there. In addition, police operation in Mylopotas district for weapons or drugs broadens. Researches focus on Zoniana neighboring villages as well as the mountainous area where there is information speaking of major amounts of weapons and drugs being hidden there.

Zoniana People’s Meeting

Meantime, Zoniana residents express their discomfort for the presence of strong police authorities in the area. The say that they are worried because too many police officers are present and they do not fell free to walk in the streets. Zoniana residents are planning a people’s meeting to discuss how to deal with the situation.

Notorious Criminals

Police authorities are looking for at least 6 notorious criminals. Prosecutor has issued arrest-warrants.

One suspect has taken into custody for drug possession while 4 more suspects asked for deadline until they are taken to court. One of them being public employee was found to possess 500 gr. of cannabis. Another one was released because the amount of drugs he possessed was small. All 6 suspects are facing serious charges. In parallel in Rethymno police department the investigation on the cases of the 7 people charged with misdemeanors continue under very strict measures.

ERT