TIT FOR TATT, GREEK MAFIA SETTLING SCORES LEFT AND RIGHT

 Back In January, Greek Mobster, Vangelis Zambounis, was executed in one of the more heinous mob hits I have ever seen.  Video of the murder was caught on surveillance, and Zambounis was shot literally 96 times by an assailant using an AK-47.  Zambounis, was sitting in his BMW at the time outside of a gas station in Athens, Greece.

Zambounis, 44, was a major leader in underworld circles, dominating the cigarette smuggling trade, narcotics, protection rackets and dominated fuel monopolies. It's been alleged by Greek authorities that Zambounis himself also was likely responsible for murders himself, and that his rivals were coming to collect on old scores.

In the CC-TV video, illegally released by several police officers in Greece you can see a hooded, masked attacker  emptying a 30 round clip from an AK-47 style assault rifle into the driver-side window of the SUV, reloading, and firing a second clip to defeat the vehicle’s armor. The killer then opened the BMW’s shattered door and shot Zambounis several times in the head. Off camera, a second gunman was firing another AK-47 into the vehicle from the other side of the car.

Vangelis Zambounis

Police have  said at least 96 shell casings were found at the scene. The assassin’s car, a Lexus SUV reported stolen from Italy six months ago, was later found burning near the scene, where police also recovered two AK-47s and a pistol likely used in the killing. A third AK-47 and a pistol were recovered, unfired, from Zambounis’ vehicle by police.

Zambounis, is largely one of the bigger figures, or was in Athens, a man who is within the higher ranks of the Albanian mafia stated that "you pay him, unless you want a problem, he has killed other bosses, so you just pay up or else."  It is likely that Zambounis's murder was retaliation for the hit last June on Vassilis Roubetis and his brother-in law who got hit in a double murder that appears eactly the same was as Zambounis got hit. Same weapons, same exact style. Police believe that Zambounis ordered that hit in retaliation for the murder of another boss, Yiannis Skaftouros, who was hit outside of his vacation home in Skourta, Greece. In that murder Ak-47's were used as well. 

Zambounis, was almost killed in a brazen hit back in 2018, but the gunmen's AK-47 jammed. It's been widely reported there was a contract on Zambounis life and has been for a long time with both Albanian mobsters and Greek mobsters looking for Zambounis. However, according to reports, there is a different longline, one I don't believe and it's that since the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian mobsters have flooded the black market attempting to take control of gasoline and tobacco smuggling especially in Balkan controlled areas. While that may be a subplot to the story, it's likely not the case.

Christos Gialias

Last Tuesday, Christos Gialias, who was a noted businessman, got hit in his car near his home. An AK-47 was found near the scene, and 18 shell casings were found in the car and surrounding it. Gialais, was a guy like Paul Castellano, who cornered the market on poultry, and not just the market on sales, but the farm lands the distribution, and processing. He had advanced his businesses into Albania, Italy, and Bulgaria. Gialias has long been suspected of being a narcotics trafficker, but has no arrests or indictments related to drugs, but the streets have a way of putting out that information.  In 2018, his ex wife was murdered outside of her home in which authorities at the time called it a "robbery gone bad."  A 48 year old relative of Gialias was arrested for that crime.  

SO WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE HITS?

In reality, much like in Canada, it's groups warring over the tobacco trade. This is very much similar to what we have seen in Montreal over the years, two or three rival groups, vying for power and a monopoly on tobacco products, and cigarette smuggling. Outside of Greece, there a a subgroup based in the Ukraine, that wants full control of the enterprise, and so what we are seeing is Ukrainian, Albanian and other Balkan nations getting involved in a war against the Greeks.  

This is a move of other criminal organizations outside of Greece, attempting to move into Greek run territories, and because other Greek factions cannot get along, what you have is a shooting gallery of sorts. The reality is one Greek boss taking out another, he's simply doing both their enemies a favor.  Two hits in a month, and according to Greek authorities, this is likely just the beginning and scores getting settled for past hits.