Fake priests running a drug lab uncovered in Athens

A fake priest posing as an archbishop outside the church building in Athens. Photo: Athens News

In November 2025, police in Athens uncovered a criminal organization whose members posed as priests of an Old Calendarist church and used a church building as cover for drug trafficking, reports Athens News.

According to investigators, cocaine and unprocessed cannabis were distributed through the “church.” The investigation found that the criminal network operated under a clear hierarchy: a 52-year-old woman managed operations, allocated profits, and oversaw the drug trade.

Her closest associate was a 46-year-old former monk who had been defrocked by the Church of Greece for violating monastic vows and inappropriate conduct. Afterward, he joined an Old Calendarist group, continuing to present himself as an “archbishop.”

According to the investigation, he was responsible for storing, packaging, and handing over drugs to clients near the church building. In wiretapped conversations, the group used code words: “candle” for cocaine, “coffee” for hashish, and “fanouropita” for unprocessed marijuana.

During the searches, police seized more than 2 kilograms of cocaine, 9 kilograms of cannabis, electronic scales, mobile phones, signal jammers, and a large amount of cash. Eight people were arrested, seven of whom had prior records for similar offenses.

According to Athens News, the building where the “church” operated belongs to the state-owned company ΓΑΙΑΟΣΕ and had been leased to entities connected with the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a reliquary containing the relics of Saint Spyridon was stolen from a church in Belarus.

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