Traffic police officer and bodybuilder arrested as ringleader of anabolic trafficking ring in Athens; 111,720 tablets seized

The network

Greek authorities dismantled a criminal organization trafficking anabolic steroids and unlicensed pharmaceuticals, the Hellenic Police Internal Affairs unit announced on 10 July. The group had been active since at least August 2025, importing substances from abroad and distributing them across Attica. Three members were arrested during coordinated raids on the morning of 9 July, including a 35-year-old traffic police officer serving with the Athens Traffic Police, who was also a professional bodybuilder. A 56-year-old Polish supplier fled Greece on 19 May and remains at large.

The criminal organization had been active since at least August 2025 and had amassed an estimated 500,000 euros in illicit proceeds.

The officer and his 30-year-old partner, who was also arrested, ran a separate client network, promoting the products, advising buyers on dosage, and collecting payments. A 40-year-old man arrested alongside them managed storage sites together with the Polish supplier. Deliveries were made in person or via postal parcels, with payments accepted through bank transfers, the IRIS instant payment system, and Revolut digital banking.

Seizures and scale

Police recovered 111,720 anabolic tablets, 7,985 vials of anabolic substances, and 8,346 vials of bacteriostatic water. The haul also included a special launcher, cartridges, stun grenades, and small amounts of cocaine and raw cannabis. Authorities valued the seized anabolic and pharmaceutical products at approximately 500,000 euros.

The products were manufactured by a laboratory based in the British Virgin Islands and circulated mainly through the black market, according to the case file. The substances appear on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List, making their unlicensed trade a doping and pharmaceutical law violation.

The bodybuilder officer

The 35-year-old police sergeant, detailed to the Athens Traffic Police, was identified as the ringleader. He and his partner allegedly built a dedicated clientele, taking orders and providing instructions on how to use the banned substances. The officer’s dual role as a serving policeman and competitive bodybuilder drew attention from the Internal Affairs unit, which initiated the investigation after evaluating a tip-off.

International trigger

A Europol-led operation on 12 May 2026 that dismantled a counterfeit drugs network across multiple countries prompted the group to adapt. The 56-year-old Polish national, who handled imports, fled to Poland by air on 19 May and has not been located since. Following his departure, the remaining members sought a new supplier to continue their activity, according to intercepted communications.

Broader charges

Besides the three arrested, 11 additional individuals are facing separate charges, including two more police officers and a doctor employed at a public hospital. The charges range from membership in a criminal organization to violations of anti-doping, pharmaceutical, weapons, and narcotics laws. The investigation, which used special investigative measures and intelligence, started after a formal complaint and spanned several months.