Fatalities in senseless shooting, Crete stinks to high heaven, crime statistics for September and some examples.

People in Crete are quite attached to their weapons. This goes much deeper than mere interest.

Even young men in the villages are familiar with weapons. Handling them is somehow part of the local culture.

Weapons and ammunition often change hands on the black market. This makes the whole issue of illegal armament even more complicated.

The police repeatedly find large quantities of weapons and ammunition. These items usually come from abroad and then end up in Crete.

Many see this tradition and the possession of weapons as part of their identity. At festivals or even in everyday life, some people openly display their weapons – somehow as a sign of strength or belonging.

There are old stories about hidden weapons or night-time deliveries to remote coasts. This reinforces the image of Crete as an island where weapons are an integral part of social life.

When you shoot into the air, the bullet doesn’t fly into space

Many people still believe that a bullet fired into the air disappears somewhere in the middle of nowhere. But that’s not true.

When someone fires a gun into the air, they often don’t know where the bullet will land. That’s exactly what makes it dangerous.

Important safety rules when shooting

One of the most important rules: You must always know where the bullet will land.

If you simply shoot into the air, the following happens:

• The bullet flies up – as expected.
• It then follows a parabolic trajectory and eventually comes back down.
• It can become fast enough to injure or even kill people.

How does the bullet fall?

In most cases, the bullet does not land with the tip first, but with the flattened end first. Nevertheless, the speed is often enough to pierce the skin.

In some cases, the bullet even penetrates the bone. Crazy, isn’t it?

Real-life cases

In Rethymnon, someone once fired a gun into the air at a celebration. The bullet flew 4.5 kilometres and hit someone – fortunately only slightly injuring them.

There was a tragic case in Heraklion. An old man was sitting quietly in his garden when a bullet hit him in the head. The bullet even entered the wrong way round and led to his death. It was only during the autopsy that the doctors found out what had happened.

Shooting into the air is not a harmless act.

It often injures people who are nowhere near the area. Anyone who wants to handle weapons should take these risks very seriously.

Important rules for handling weapons:

• Know your target and what is behind it.
• Never shoot into the air or in an unsafe direction.
• Always wear protective clothing when practising shooting.
• Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

These rules save lives – it sounds trite, but it’s true.

Initiatives to restrict weapons prove fruitless

The ‘ceasefire’ initiative was launched in 2004 under Giorgos Voulgarakis. The aim was not to confiscate all weapons, but to legalise them and, above all, to stop senseless shooting.

Unfortunately, this campaign somehow got stuck. The second phase was intended to enable illegal weapons to be registered as collector’s items.

In addition, other gun owners would have received a type of shooting licence. This would have allowed them to use their weapons legally at shooting ranges.

Many experts believe that this would reduce gun smuggling. People could officially register their weapons and then have everything legal.

This would finally allow the authorities to know where the weapons are. That sounds like a step in the right direction, doesn’t it?

It is also proposed that the same rules apply to rifled weapons as to smooth-bore hunting weapons. Hunting weapons can often cause even more damage than small pistols if used incorrectly.

Another problem: weapons that are considered military weapons constitute serious criminal offences. Since a court ruling in 2022, only weapons used by modern armies are considered military weapons.

Old weapons, for example from the Second World War, are no longer automatically included. There should be a separate regulation for these historical weapons.

Owners could then deactivate them and register them as collector’s items. This would relieve the black market and promote legal gun ownership.

A ministerial decree by Voulgarakis supports this model. However, it is somehow not being implemented correctly.

If this were finally achieved, many weapons could be transferred from the illegal to the legal sphere.

• No automatic confiscation: It is not about bans, but about control.
• Collector’s licences: For historical or rare weapons.
• Shooting licences: For the legal use of weapons at shooting ranges.
• Legislative changes: Gun laws must better distinguish between military and collector’s weapons.

Practical examples

During a police operation in Crete, officers also confiscated weapons of historical value. Such items should not be considered criminal offences if they are legally registered and not misused.

Creta Live

Crete stinks

Crete is currently in real trouble. Violence, lawlessness and crime dominate the everyday lives of many people on the island.

In places like Vorizia and Elos, bloody incidents are becoming more frequent. Security and the social climate are suffering noticeably.

The whole situation is quite complicated and affects all social classes. Illegal weapons are circulating everywhere, drug trafficking is flourishing, and groups are constantly clashing.

Because the police are hardly visible, criminals feel quite safe. As a result, violence often goes unchecked.

Many people feel quite powerless. There is hardly anyone who openly opposes the violence.

A ‘vicious circle’? That sums it up quite well. Most people look the other way and simply try to get through their daily lives somehow.

There is a lot of discussion about education, but that is not so easy either. Schools and teachers try to impart values, but sometimes encounter resistance.

Some people simply do not want anything to change. There have even been cases where teachers have been threatened or driven out of their villages – sad but true.

The laws in Crete do little to help with the weapons problem. The authorities take much tougher action against traffic offences than against illegal possession of weapons or violence.

Previous attempts to disarm people have not been very successful. Somehow, the problem persists.

Political structures sometimes protect the wrong people. There are connections between politics and certain groups that make everything even more complicated.

Voters are not entirely innocent in this. They can either support or reject these structures through their behaviour.

Vorizia is located in the south of Crete, not far from Heraklion. The area mainly lives from olive cultivation and livestock farming.

The people there have a history of resistance, especially during the Second World War. Today, they are struggling with the consequences of conflicts and terrible incidents that have placed a heavy burden on the village.

Some schools in the region have been closed as a precautionary measure. The aim is to protect the children.

Psychological help and social services are taking care of those affected. After the traumatic events, this is urgently needed.

Facts about Vorizia at a glance:

• Distance from Heraklion: approx. 55 kilometres south
• Main economy: olive cultivation and livestock farming
• Historical role: participation in the resistance during the Second World War
• Current problems: violent incidents, social tensions

There was recently a violent explosion in a house in Vorizia. This has further increased the sense of insecurity in the village.

The situation is also coming to a head in the Messara region. There are reports of criminal activity and growing fear among the population everywhere.

The people there live with the feeling that violence and lawlessness are part of everyday life. Who wouldn’t be nervous?

A lack of state control, social tensions and political entanglements are creating a dangerous atmosphere. The thought arises that something urgently needs to change.

Important points regarding the social situation:

• Increase in gun violence
• Decline in state presence on the ground
• Resistance to changes in social norms
• Lack of political support for consistent measures

The community has to react somehow, doesn’t it? If more people took a clear stand against violence, things might slowly start to change.

Responsible voting and social engagement are certainly also called for.

The last few years in Crete have shown how deep-rooted the problems are. Every new act of violence leaves its mark and makes it more difficult to rebuild trust and security.

Summary of the causes:

• Greed and lust for power on the part of some individuals
• Proliferation of illegal weapons and drugs
• Lack of effective laws and enforcement
• Social stagnation and passivity
• Political networking among groups of perpetrators

After the incidents in Vorízia, the issue remains topical. If you like, you can take a look at the developments in Crete after Vorízia.

Creta Live

Crete: 783 arrests and criminal organisations dismantled – impressive results for the police in September

In September 2025, the police in Crete had their hands full. They arrested a total of 783 people for a wide variety of offences.

These ranged from everyday offences to serious crimes. Really, everything was included.

Arrests by type of offence:

The police also arrested suspects for neglect of minors, black market trading, sexual harassment, contempt of court and public health offences.

Serious crimes solved in September:

Officers also solved some fairly serious cases in September:

• 1 case of robbery
• 1 case of manslaughter
• 2 rapes
• 92 cases of fraud and forgery
• 98 drug cases
• 39 weapons cases
• 71 cases of domestic violence
• 45 cases of cattle theft
• 30 burglaries in houses, shops and hotels
• 187 cases involving a wide variety of offences and crimes in total

Dismantling criminal networks

One of the greatest successes was the dismantling of networks involved in drugs, weapons and extortion. Even members of church communities were targeted by these groups.

Those arrested included not only ‘classic’ criminals, but also civil servants and businesspeople. This shows how widespread the problem is.

Results at a glance:

• Large-scale raids in various regions of Crete
• Police officers, military personnel and businesspeople were also arrested
• Drugs, weapons and cash were seized and taken to the evidence room
• Further criminal activities were prevented

NeaKriti

Arrest of a 61-year-old man in Neapoli for violations of the Narcotics and Weapons Act

This morning, officers arrested a 61-year-old man in Neapoli, in the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. The Lasithi Police Task Force accuses him of violating the Narcotics and Weapons Act.

During a search of his home, they found several weapons and various drugs. The list is not exactly short:

• Over 2 kilograms of unrefined cannabis
• Processed cannabis products (chocolate)
• A quantity of cocaine
• 8 firearms
• 4 magazine rifles
• Over 200 rounds of ammunition

In addition, there were measuring devices for dosages and prohibited blades, including two knives and a bayonet blade. It’s quite shocking what came to light.

The police carried out this operation as part of a coordinated inspection. The aim was to remove drugs and illegal weapons from circulation.

More details can be found in the report on the subject Arrest in Agios Nikolaos.

Handcuffs for a 57-year-old man for illegal possession of weapons in Heraklion

On 21 October 2025, the police in Heraklion launched a targeted operation. They arrested a 57-year-old man who was apparently illegally hoarding weapons and communication devices.

The Organised Crime Investigation Unit in Crete led the investigation. During the search, officers found the following:

Key findings from the search:

The quantity and type of items speak for themselves. The case is really serious.

The police had precise information that led to this coordinated action. The investigation is still ongoing, and the man will first be handed over to the judicial authorities.

Significance of the case:

• It shows how important it is for different police units to work together.
• It highlights the focus on controlling illegal arms movements in Crete.
• It improves community safety by removing dangerous items.

The authorities want to use such actions to strengthen public safety and further curb the illegal arms trade.

DayNight

Weapons, hand grenades, dynamite and numerous antiques in the possession of a 77-year-old man in Rethymnon

In Rethymnon, police searched the home of a 77-year-old man in the municipality of Agios Vasileios. During the search, officers discovered a rather unusual collection of weapons, explosives and archaeological finds.

The following items were found in the house and seized:

The mixture of modern weapons and ancient artefacts is remarkable. One wonders how such a thing could have come about.

The Rethymnon sub-department for the prosecution and investigation of criminal offences is continuing its investigations. According to the police, such operations are important for removing illegal weapons from circulation and protecting cultural heritage.

NeaKriti

Agios Nikolaos: Weapons, ammunition and animal welfare violations found during inspections of sheep pens – three arrests

On 22 October 2025, the police carried out targeted checks on several sheep pens in the Agios Nikolaos area. They arrested three men aged 25, 26 and 49.

The officers found a pistol with a magazine, 26 cartridges and 22 casings. Although the quantity is manageable, the find is not without consequences.

• A pistol with a magazine
• 26 cartridges
• 22 shell casings

In addition, the police officers discovered violations of animal welfare and animal theft prevention regulations.

The following violations were identified:

The police carried out the checks to curb crime, illegal possession of weapons and animal theft in the region.

Investigation and further steps

The Neapolis police station is leading the investigation. Officers are examining how the weapons and violations are connected to the arrested individuals and the region.

The three men are currently in custody. They are facing charges for violations of the Weapons Act, the Animal Theft Ordinance and the Animal Welfare Act.

Background to the operation

The police specifically targeted sheep pens because they consider these places to be potential meeting points for illegal activities. The arrests are intended to prevent further crimes.

The operation is part of a larger programme in the Lasithi district aimed at improving safety for people and animals.

Overview of the arrests

Administrative penalties and proceedings

In addition to criminal investigations, those involved also had to pay administrative penalties. The authorities imposed fines for poor animal husbandry and inadequate protection.

The police intend to carry out more frequent checks in future. They plan to take stricter measures to prevent such violations.

Source: Police report by the Lassithi Police Operations Department, 22 October 2025.

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