Arrest of the last three suspects, an entire arsenal of weapons used in the shootout, and Crete between the “Wild West” and modernity.
Rapid developments in the Vorizia feud case
Late on Tuesday afternoon, around 6 p.m., the authorities took action. They arrested three men who were wanted in connection with the fatal altercation on Saturday, 1 November.
These arrests have caused quite a stir in the community. It feels a bit like everything has been turned upside down.
Location and arrest in Messara
The police tracked down at least one of the suspects at a hotel in the Messara region. The hotel owners, a father and son, were taken in for questioning.
The police then spoke to the three brothers’ solicitor. After some negotiations, the men finally gave themselves up.
The three young men, aged 27, 29 and 19, surrendered in front of a petrol station near Moires. The police took them to the headquarters in Heraklion.
They are alleged to have been involved in the bloody confrontation in which a 39-year-old father of five and a 56-year-old nurse died. The woman was hit by a stray bullet as she returned to the village for her father’s funeral.
The injured and the ongoing police presence
A fourth brother is in hospital with a knee injury. Police officers are guarding him around the clock.
A cousin with a serious leg injury is also under guard.
Around 400 heavily armed police officers continue to patrol the village, which has a population of around 500. The authorities are still searching for the weapons used in the fatal confrontation.
Investigations by the authorities and new findings
A total of six people are believed to have been involved in the shooting. The whole thing seems to stem from a family conflict that has been going on for years.
Investigators examined all those involved – the dead, the injured and those present – for gunpowder residue. They also took DNA samples to clarify who actually used weapons.
Checks at Alikarnassos prison
On the morning of 4 November, the police searched Alikarnassos prison. They found two mobile phones and a homemade knife in the cells of three relatives of the 39-year-old victim.
The officers sent the mobile phones to the laboratory for further examination. According to ERT, three relatives are connected to the case and remain under observation.
Six different types of weapons are said to have been used
At least six different types of weapons were apparently used in the bloody battle in Vorizia. Investigators on site discovered some rather strange details about the use of weapons.
According to the collected cartridge cases, they have reliably identified the following types of weapons:
Weapon type |
Description |
|---|---|
Kalashnikov (2) |
Automatic rifles manufactured in China and Bulgaria |
9 mm pistol |
Standard pistol with 9 mm calibre |
3.80 mm pistol |
Smaller calibre, compact design |
7.65 mm pistol |
Semi-automatic pistol with medium calibre |
Shotgun |
Smooth-bore hunting weapon |
38 revolver |
Classic medium-calibre revolver |
The cartridge cases from the Kalashnikov rifles come from different sources. This suggests that several of these rifles were in circulation.
Forensic experts are closely examining the impact marks on the casings. They want to find out how many weapons were actually involved.
To be honest, weapons experts are quite astonished. It is rare to see so many different types of weapons used in a single incident.
Despite the massive firepower, there were ‘only’ two fatalities and four injuries. That remains somewhat difficult to comprehend.
Investigations also show that 39-year-old Fanouris Kargakis was hit multiple times. The bullet holes are located around the 4×4 vehicle in which he was sitting.
A fatal bullet was lodged in the driver’s door. That seems pretty deliberate, doesn’t it?
Crete between the Wild West and modernity
Crete somehow balances tradition and modernity. The island is known for its natural beauty, cultural diversity and a history that dates back to ancient times.
This is precisely why many people are drawn here: they want to see the landscapes and experience the vibrant culture.
Music is more than just entertainment in Crete; it reflects the lives of the people. Artists such as Themis Adamantidis have captured the special spirit of the islands in songs such as ‘Κρήτη, Κέρκυρα και Νιο’.
Such songs show how closely Crete remains connected to the other Greek islands and tradition.
Crete combines a strange mixture of strength and rugged freedom. Violence has always been a part of life here, but at the same time, traditions offered protection.
Even today, you can still feel this wild, untamed spirit, especially in remote corners. The old customs are not just decoration there, but part of everyday life.
Crete between tradition and modernity
Old traditions and new challenges collide in Crete. Giannis Markopoulos conveys this quite well in his music.
His work Ana-gennisi – Kriti: Anamesa se Venetia kai Poli shows how diverse the island is – from its proud history to modern influences.
Music and poetry
Greek artists such as Themis Adamantidis and Sidarta weave feelings, places and stories from Crete into their songs. Songs such as ΑΚΟΜΗ by Sidarta and Κρήτη by Adamantidis show how deeply rooted music is here.
Insights into reality
As beautiful as the traditions are, the reality is often quite complicated. Violence and illegal businesses have long since taken root in Crete.
Some even call the island ‘Colombia’ or ‘the Wild West’ because weapons are so prevalent and criminal networks are involved.
Term |
Meaning |
|---|---|
Leventia |
Traditional bravery and honour |
Avato |
Restricted area or lawless zone |
Illegality |
Smuggling, drug trafficking, use of weapons |
Celebrations and crime are sometimes closer together than one might think. Beautiful culture often serves as a pretext for illegal activities.
The ‘Ávato’ economy – from pasture land to arms trade
The idea that problems in the ‘Ávato’ are merely exceptions or bad habits does not really hold water. It is not just a matter of traditions or customs.
A real economy has developed around weapons and knives. In some areas, people officially register agricultural land, even though production is far from sufficient.
These pastures often exist only on paper. The profits usually end up as black money in the hands of those who exploit the system.
The money forms the financial basis for violence and illegal business. Those who act as ‘criminals’ here rarely do so out of pride or honour – there is often a clear business interest behind it.
Weapons, ammunition, drug trafficking – these activities are carried out through networks that initially appear harmless, such as marriage sponsorships. Later, these turn into protection money agreements.
Economic aspect |
Significance |
|---|---|
Official subsidies |
Funds flow into areas without the corresponding production |
‘Paper pasture land’ |
Pasture land that only exists on paper |
Black money |
Illegal income that is distributed |
Arms trade and protection money |
Economic basis of violence |
The rifle is no longer just a symbol of masculinity or courage. It is a tool for power and money management.
This investment in illegal business pays off for some and promotes the feeling that you will not be punished anyway.
List of important points:
- The struggle for resources is often economically motivated.
- Subsidies often serve as a cover for illegal income.
- Drug trafficking and protection racketeering networks are closely intertwined.
- Confrontations here are rarely purely traditional – most of the time, it’s about business.
This creates an environment in which violence remains a business model. The ‘Ávato’ has long been more than just a cultural or social phenomenon – it is a rather complex economic network.
The political game: nepotism and silence
You don’t need to name names to get the picture. There are these ‘photos’: a politician at a ceremony or even a funeral, while shots can be heard in the background.
The official grins and stands next to someone who will soon be in the headlines for misconduct. Then there is the local “protector” who forgets the law when it comes to his own people.
Port managers remain in office for years – not because they are so brilliant, but because “something” must be preserved. Political backers ensure that impunity acts as a protective shield and that misconduct has hardly any consequences.
The ‘institutional’ voices usually only speak up afterwards:
- ‘We condemn violence.’
- ‘The judiciary will do its duty.’
But honestly, who really looked into it beforehand? Who dared to question the connections that keep the whole system running?
When political costs suddenly outweigh human lives, words lose their value. The silence and distance of local and central actors are part of the problem.
Elements of the game |
Description |
|---|---|
Photos at events |
Political figures at important, often stressful occasions |
Smiling officials |
Proximity to people with dubious behaviour |
Local ‘protectors’ |
Break rules for the benefit of their own group |
Long-standing port managers |
Not for performance, but for ‘stability’ in office |
Political backing |
Protects against consequences and promotes impunity |
Late public reaction |
Condemnations only occur after incidents |
Silence as a strategy |
Deliberately looking the other way and not interfering |
These mechanisms are nothing new, but every time they come to light, they leave a bitter aftertaste. Nepotism and fear of consequences are deeply rooted in politics.
Pictures sometimes say more than words – and often they are louder.
Schools close, communities are afraid – the loss of everyday life
When schools close, there is often more to it than just organisational problems. Children are growing up in a world where violence and weapons are almost part of everyday life.
Parents are worried and only send their children to school if they have a stomach ache – if at all. Shops close early because the owners are afraid that something will happen.
Many young people look for quick ways to make money and often end up on the black market or in other illegal businesses. This is no longer an isolated case, but a pattern that runs through society.
Political actors often remain passive
- Mayors and regional authorities usually only show up when the media puts pressure on them.
- Local authorities rarely work together to find solutions.
- Members of parliament rarely take a united stand against violence. It often remains a matter of individual voices.
People feel abandoned. When the political system remains silent or is afraid to act, the community is left defenceless.
Effects of school closures |
Consequences for the community |
|---|---|
Fewer educational opportunities |
Loss of social meeting places |
Fear and insecurity |
Economic weaknesses |
Young people without prospects |
Increase in criminal activity |
The fear becomes palpable when school buildings remain empty and fewer and fewer children run through the villages. Without schools, the social structures that hold life together crumble.
Teachers, parents and citizens are fighting back. But without support from politicians and administrators, their efforts often feel like a drop in the ocean.
School closures are symbolic of the decline of entire regions where hope and the future are simply disappearing. Everyday life is characterised by fear and uncertainty.
You can see it everywhere – in the Peloponnese, on Crete, in the outskirts of large cities. There are repeated reports of schools closing down every year.
Empty schoolyards are more than just a symbol of closed buildings. They represent the loss of a safe place, a familiar community and a peaceful everyday life.
Clear failure: a state without a strategy – only oppression and institutional emptiness
The state is driving aimlessly through the terrain. There are only ever short-term measures – checks, a few more police officers after incidents, media appearances.
But all this only happens after something has already happened. What is really missing: systematic checks on subsidies, a proper register of pasture land, traceability of weapons.
Independent audits, preventive education concepts or specialised teams for illegal practices in rural areas? Rarely, if ever, seen.
Missing elements in the state’s approach |
Effects |
|---|---|
No systematic controls |
Subsidies are misused |
No complete pasture land register |
Environmental and usage problems |
Lack of traceability of weapons |
Increased security risks |
Lack of independent land management controls |
Land grabbing and illegal construction |
Lack of prevention programmes in education |
Recurring problems and conflicts |
Lack of specialised control groups |
Crimes remain undetected |
The state’s response is almost always: more pressure, more control. But when coercion is the only option left, it eventually backfires – often even harder.
The institutions are weak. Control authorities work slowly or remain completely inactive.
The judiciary puts cases on the back burner and perpetrators breathe a sigh of relief. Local authorities shirk their responsibilities.
In this way, the state gradually loses its role as protector. Everything is weighed up according to political expediency. This creates a power vacuum and leads to constant failure.
Particularly bad are:
- Bureaucracy – it paralyses everything.
- Political restraint – blocks change.
- Lack of transparency – people lose trust.
- Law enforcement – hardly works, perpetrators go unpunished.
All of this leads to a massive loss of trust and permanently weakens the state.
Key points at a glance:
- No long-term planning
- Only reactive measures
- Institutions delay and weaken processes
- State loses control over security
- Political calculations take precedence over everything else
More police are not enough. What is needed are genuine reforms in the institutions and a political strategy that lasts longer than until the next crisis.
The image that the country points the finger at, but the problem is everywhere
The media likes to point the finger at Crete as if that were where the main problem lies. This quickly gives the impression that most crime and lawlessness occur there.
But that’s a rather one-sided view. The problems exist everywhere, especially around Athens.
In Crete, local traditions and lawlessness are intertwined. This makes the reports more exciting and somehow more ‘exotic’ for the media.
They often emphasise the ‘vendetta’ to make the stories even more striking. This creates the image that Crete is a big exception.
Fact |
Reality |
|---|---|
Problem only in Crete |
Crime is widespread throughout Greece |
Local tradition as an excuse |
Tradition is often used as an alibi for lawlessness |
Media focus on spectacular cases |
Problems are deeply rooted throughout the country |
There is little point in blaming individual regions. The more important question is: where and why is the state losing influence?
This is precisely where networks that promote crime are growing – whether in urban or rural areas.
Prevention and strengthening institutions remain crucial. Only if the state remains visible and consistent can it curb these problems at all.
- Stigmatisation is of little use.
- The causes must be tackled.
- Institutions must be improved.
Not a vendetta, but a wake-up call
Bloodshed must not remain a forgotten story. It does not simply fade away on the pages.
Behind every bullet there is more than personal strife or a false notion of honour. There are often networks full of economic interests.
Land ownership, illicit money, control over certain areas – all of these play a role. Political backing and institutional leniency are also part of it.
We must fight this network in a targeted manner.
We don’t need heroes with guns. What we need are people who stand up for the rule of law.
And not only when something has happened. But beforehand, with clear plans.
This includes, for example:
- Monitoring committees
- Traceability of weapons
- Transparency in land registry entries
- Investment in education
- Incorruptible institutions
Everyone is called upon to act: members of parliament, local authorities, organisations and citizens. No one can opt out.
The real problem is not who pulled the trigger last. The question is rather who has been persuading people for years that pulling the trigger has no consequences.
These ‘teachers’ must be torn out by the roots.
