Arrest of suspect in Zambuni murder in occupied Cyprus
A 43-year-old Interpol wanted man was arrested in occupied Cyprus as the primary suspect in the murder of Vangelis Zambuni in January 2024.
Arrest in occupied Cyprus for Zambuni murder – involvement in cigarette smuggling ring
A 43-year-old who was wanted by Interpol was arrested in occupied Cyprus as the primary suspect in the murder of Vangelis Zambuni on 14 January 2024 in Nea Kosmos, Athens, according to Google News GR — Crime (el).
According to information from the Cyprus News Agency (KYPE), the suspect was brought before a judicial authority in occupied Cyprus, where he was charged with illegal residence and violation of a "military restricted zone". The competent court issued an order for his three-day detention, whilst an investigation is underway into the purpose of his presence and possible involvement in other offences.
A member of the authorities testified that the suspect had resided illegally in occupied Cyprus for 389 days. He also stated that the suspect had crossed secretly into free areas via Tymvos and returned in the same manner in July.
The Zambuni murder
The 44-year-old Vangelis Zambuni, known as "Zambon", was found dead at 2 a.m. on 14 January 2024 at the intersection of Fratzis and Ilias Iliou streets in Nea Kosmos, outside a petrol station where he worked. Unknown occupants in a stolen jeep approached him whilst he was in his car and opened fire with a Kalashnikov and pistols. Shortly afterwards, the perpetrators' vehicle was found burnt in the Schistos area. In 2018, he had been the subject of a murder attempt in Piraeus during which he was seriously wounded.
The case was solved in early March 2025 within the framework of a broader investigation into an organised crime group involved in cigarette smuggling, whilst the Hellenic Police links it to settling of accounts within the so-called Greek Mafia.
Cigarette smuggling ring and Greek Mafia
The investigation began in February 2024. Investigators from the Organised Crime Combating Directorate conducted surveillance and identifications for months, resulting in the preparation of a case file with over 150 individuals involved. According to ERT, the damage to the state is estimated at at least 9 million euros, whilst over 28 million smuggled cigarettes were seized.
A key role in the ring appears to be played by two brothers, immigrants from Kazakhstan, based in Greece. Subsequently, according to a Greek Police announcement, their involvement emerged with one of the major names in the mafia — the so-called "Edik", who resides in Dubai. The latter is alleged to have ordered at least four murders, whilst the organisation is also linked to beatings, extortion and extraction of monetary sums from businessmen. Notable is the reference to beatings that took place even within Korydallos prison.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)