Greek Crime Lord Shot Dead in Torrent of Gunfire

The recent murder of crime boss Vangelis Zambounis at a petrol station in southern Athens has brought attention to the violent nature of the Greek mafia. Authorities are currently searching for the killers responsible for the brutal attack. Zambounis, who was considered a powerful figure in the Greek criminal underworld, was targeted in a hail of gunfire. More than 90 rounds were fired at him from a Kalashnikov rifle. He was allegedly involved in various illegal activities, including leading an extortion ring and participating in the smuggling of cigarettes and fuel. Video footage from CCTV revealed that Zambounis was seen entering an armored BMW outside the petrol station, which he owned in the Neos Kosmos area of Athens. Shortly after, another vehicle pulled up behind the BMW, later identified as a stolen Lexus with fake license plates from Italy. Two men emerged from the car; one clad in black and wearing a balaclava approached the BMW and fired multiple shots at close range. The assailant then retrieved a handgun from his jacket, opened the car door, and shot the occupant again. A second individual also fired shots into the vehicle before they both fled in the stolen Lexus. The burnt-out getaway car was later discovered on the outskirts of Athens. The extreme brutality of the murder has garnered significant attention in Greece, especially because the incident was captured on CCTV and broadcasted on Greek television shortly after. In a surprising turn of events, two police officers were arrested for breaching official confidentiality and leaking the footage to the media. Reports in Greece speculate about the motives behind Zambounis's murder. One theory suggests it was in retaliation for the killing of mafia rival Vassilis Roubetis in June 2023. Another theory implicates ongoing tensions between local tobacco smugglers and foreign mobsters who import inexpensive cigarettes from Ukraine. Local media also revealed that a Kalashnikov rifle and a pistol were found in Zambounis's car, hinting at his own involvement in criminal activities. It is known that he survived a previous assassination attempt in 2018 when his would-be killer's weapon malfunctioned. According to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, there have been over 20 contract killings among extortion gangs and other criminal organizations in Greece since 2017.