Greek police have dismantled an alleged criminal network operating on the island of Zakynthos that authorities say was involved in drug trafficking and the illegal possession, storage and sale of firearms and other regulated items.

The investigation, led by the Narcotics Division of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, resulted in charges against three Greek nationals – two men aged 41 and a 19-year-old – who police identified as members of the group.

According to police, months of intelligence gathering, surveillance and analysis of the suspects’ activities revealed a structured operation in which one of the 41-year-old men allegedly acted as the group’s leader, coordinating the trafficking of weapons with the assistance of the other two suspects.

Authorities carried out a coordinated operation at a complex of rental apartments with support from specialized organized crime units and local investigators in Zakynthos.

During searches, officers discovered concealed storage compartments hidden behind false walls inside specially modified bedroom wardrobes. Police said the secret compartments could be accessed through an electronically operated mechanism requiring a security code.

Inside the concealed spaces, investigators found a cache of firearms, ammunition and related equipment.

Police also arrested a 66-year-old man after allegedly finding a hunting rifle, a bulletproof vest, 23 rounds of ammunition and a collapsible baton in his possession. A separate arrest was made involving a 40-year-old man who was allegedly found carrying a small quantity of cocaine.

Authorities said searches of the rental property complex and a residence led to the seizure of nine operational pistols, 22 pistol magazines, 2,372 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, a pistol-to-rifle conversion kit, handcuffs, a brass knuckle weapon, several knives, an axe, 13 British gold sovereigns, electronic devices, storage media, communications equipment, documents and handwritten notes.

Police said several of those arrested had previously come to the attention of law enforcement for similar and other offenses, while restrictive judicial measures had been imposed on two of the suspects in the past.

The suspects have been referred to the public prosecutor’s office, while investigators continue inquiries aimed at determining the full scope of the group’s activities.