Police launched a major operation on Monday evening (16/2) after Christos Mavrikis fired shots outside his home in Spata and barricaded himself inside.
The 75-year-old, recently released from prison under electronic monitoring, shot twice into the air, alarming neighbours. He refused to surrender, prompting authorities to send strong police forces, special units, and a trained negotiator. Firefighters were also present as a precaution. Police secured the area for safety reasons.
Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, officers located Mavrikis hiding in an adjacent lot and arrested him. Authorities used flashlights to search the area during the operation.
Mavrikis gained national notoriety as the “national bug” due to his role in the 1993 telephone surveillance scandal, when he admitted monitoring politicians’ calls while working as an OTE technician. He acted under orders from General Nikos Gryllakis, a close aide of Konstantinos Mitsotakis.
In 1998, he was convicted of attempted extortion, illegal wiretapping, and unlawful violence. In 2022, he alarmed authorities again after brandishing a weapon during a gas station dispute. In May 2025, he faced charges of attempting to bribe a Supreme Court judge with €1 million to influence a civil case.
Police confirmed Mavrikis had recently been released and was under electronic monitoring when the incident occurred.
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