EYP Ethniki Ypiresia Pliroforion (Εθνική Υπηρεσία Πληροφοριών) agents were inside the vehicle that came under fire from another car on Thursday afternoon in Thermi, Thessaloniki. Greek sovereignty undermined, Turkish mafia targets Greek agents according to a report by SKAI television. Citing sources, SKAI reported that the shots were fired by individuals believed to be members of the Turkish mafia.
The Incident
At approximately 4 p.m., in the municipality of Thermi, a jeep with foreign number plates and three occupants stopped near a petrol station. The passengers rolled down the windows and opened fire in the direction of another vehicle.
Both vehicles then fled the scene. A significant police presence arrived shortly after, and officers recovered three bullet casings and collected CCTV footage from the petrol station.
The investigation has been handed over to the Northern Greece Organised Crime Division.
What Preceded the Shooting
According to SKAI, the EYP agents were monitoring a group of Turks believed to have links to the Turkish mafia. The suspects’ vehicle had foreign plates, which had raised suspicions during routine checks, prompting discreet surveillance.
It appears the suspects realised they were being followed and opened fire, reportedly mistaking the EYP agents for rival gang members.
The Broader Context
This incident highlights the growing reach of Turkish organised crime in Greece, particularly in areas like Glyfada and Thessaloniki. Alarmingly, the Turkish mafia is believed to operate with the tacit support of the Turkish state and now reportedly recognises EYP personnel and their vehicles.
Some commentators have likened the situation to Russia’s covert operations in Ukraine leading up to the 2014 annexation of Crimea — a slow erosion of national sovereignty through hybrid tactics.
Criticism has also been levelled at the current Greek government, with accusations that it allows Turkish criminal networks to act with impunity. In an ironic twist, even the Turkish mafia seems to have identified EYP agents—something that raises questions about operational security.
