Cocaine, migrants and YouTube: The secret life of excommunicated Archbishop Parthenios

In Greece three arrested priestsaccused of drug trafficking And illegal transportation of migrants. Played as the leader of a criminal organization excommunicated Archbishop Parthenioswho hosted a cooking show on YouTube and at the same time kept drugs in the temple.

Drugs under the cassock: three “priests” arrested in Greece

Three men who introduced themselves as priests of the Old Calendar* Churchwere detained during a large-scale police operation in Attica and Rhodes. According to investigators, they were part of criminal groupwho was engaged drug trafficking And transportation of illegal migrants.

Father Parthenius

The key role in the group, according to the police, was played by 46-year-old Parthenius Vezireaswho had previously been excommunicated from the Church of Greece and became an archbishop among the Old Calendarists.

He is known in Greece as a former model, food blogger and TV show character.

The 46-year-old priest has appeared on television several times.

At the same time he kept drugs right in the temple on Liosiou Street in Athens, where one of the accomplices was distributing cocaine in the courtyard of a church.

Organization was divided into two groups. The first was headed 52-year-old Greek woman and her 42-year-old accomplice of Albanian origin. They coordinated supplies, recruitment of participants, drug trafficking logistics and transportation of migrants around the country. It was they who used the priests as “carriers” – their robes, according to investigators, allowed them to avoid suspicion.

The second block was responsible for cannabis cultivation in Phthiotis and subsequent transportation. The head of this part was 50 year old Greekand the logistics were coordinated by the same 42-year-old messenger.

During searches in Attica And on the island of Rhodes were found: more than 2.2 kg of cocaine, over 9 kg of cannabis, electronic scales, communication equipment, a signal jammer, as well as 4 cars and cash in euros and Albanian leks.

Police saythat the group operated with a clear hierarchy, had its own logistics, distribution of roles and drug storage systems. According to preliminary estimates, they received at least 105 thousand euros in profit.

Of the eight detainees, seven had previously come to the attention of the police. All of them were delivered to the investigative authorities and will appear in court on charges of drug trafficking And migrant smuggling.

Official statement from the Greek police about the activities of a criminal group

Drug Enforcement Unit of the Organized Crime Agency uncovered a criminal organizationwhose members were engaged trafficking in significant quantities of cocaine and unprocessed cannabis on the territory of Greece.

To eliminate the group November 7, 2025 simultaneous police operations in the areas of Attica and Rhodes. As a result, it was detained eight peopleof which six are members of the organization. One of the suspects was already in custody and was also included in the criminal case.

Based on the results of the investigation, based on the analysis of information and operational data, it was established that the group members were engaged in acquisition, storage, falsification, repackaging and further sale cocaine and cannabis, growing cannabisand also illegal transportation of migrants inland.

The structure of the organization was hierarchically organized and was divided into two “wings” with separate roles. The criminals had infrastructure for all stages of drug processingincluding a cannabis plantation in the Phthiotis region.

First wing of the organization:

• 52-year-old Greek citizen – the main coordinator, supervised other participants, organized caches and controlled the logistics of drugs and the transportation of migrants.
• 42 year old man – her closest assistant, was also involved in logistics, sales network and coordination with the other wing of the group.
• 40-year-old, 46-year-old and 52-year-old men — used the status of priests to transport, store and distribute drugs, including storage inside church premises in Attica. They also participated in the transportation of migrants.

Second wing of the organization:

• 50 year old man – head of the second wing, responsible for financing, logistics, farm supply, plantation organization and drug storage.
• 42-year-old (same liaison) — was engaged in the supply of equipment to the plantation, as well as the transportation of harvested hemp.
• 43 year old woman — stored and guarded supplies of cocaine and cannabis.

On November 7, in Rhodes, a 40-year-old suspect was caught with 2.188 kg of cocaine, which he was supposed to hand over to a 38-year-old accomplice (also arrested). On the same day, searches were carried out in apartments in Athens, where a 43-year-old, 42-year-old and 52-year-old woman were found and arrested, from whom 9.092 kg of cannabis and 50 grams of cocaine were seized.

Seized property:

• 2.238 kg of cocaine
• 9,092.6 kg raw hemp
• 14 packages of medicines
• 9 mobile phones
• 4 electronic scales
• 1 mobile signal jammer (jammer)
• 4,380 euros and 24,500 Albanian leks
• 4 cars
• numerous plastic packaging

Proceeds from crime is estimated to be at least 105,000 euros.

Seven of the eight detainees already had convictions for similar crimes. Two are subject to restrictions. All detainees were taken to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation on charges related to drugs and illegal migration.

*Old Calendar Church of Greece is a non-canonical Orthodox jurisdiction that split from the Greek Orthodox Church in 1924 to protest the transition to New Julian calendar. Its followers continue to live according to the old style, reject ecumenism and are not recognized by the official Orthodox patriarchates. The Church has numerous parallel hierarchies and dioceses, but is in schism in relation to Ecumenical Orthodoxy.

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