Greek authorities arrested businessman Angelos Giannakopoulos the moment he returned to Greece from Dubai, after a raid effort was held up for days while he was abroad. The operation, run by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DAOE), began Sunday morning and targeted a well-orchestrated multi-million euro tax fraud scheme. Police had called off the raid multiple times because the prime suspect was holed up in Dubai, but once he stepped into Greece, handcuffs were immediately used. Giannakopoulos was arrested together with an accountant, whom authorities described as the “mastermind” behind the organisation’s structure. Officials also signalled a fresh round of arrests. The case follows a long history of allegations involving clubs and laundering proceeds through a wider business network. In 2010, an Interpol, Security Police and National Intelligence Service (EYP) operation dismantled a human trafficking ring Giannakopoulos ran, with women reportedly brought from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova on tourist visas and forced to work as dancers and in prostitution at nightclubs. He was convicted at first instance in 2015 to 10.5 years in prison for criminal organisation, human trafficking and money laundering, after the court found that “black” profits from adult clubs were systematically laundered through a bakery chain described at the time as rising. The appeal had suspensive effect, letting him walk free on bail of hundreds of thousands of euros, and later reductions were made at the Court of Appeal. His name later reappeared in 2025 in the case file of the “Edik” or “Voice”, where he was listed as an extortion victim, paying 200,000 euros a month to prevent attacks on venues in Athens and Mykonos. Prosecutors previously described Giannakopoulos as the hidden owner behind multiple strip clubs and nightclubs on Syggrou Avenue and in central Athens, including Alcatraz, Grand Ritorno, Moulin Bleu, and Star. The authorities said the venues functioned as a front and source of illicit cash that was funnelled and laundered to build the “Choriatiko” bakery empire. Giannakopoulos is under arrest following the airport operation, and authorities indicated further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.