Greek coast guard suspected of killing himself, police launch investigation. Is Albanian trafficker connected?

A Greek FBI team has been sent to Lesvos to investigate the strange facts in the case of the death of 29-year-old coast guard Nikos Karaklas, who served in the Coast Guard's Narcotics Unit and was found hanged in Panagia Faneromeni in Sigri, Lesvos.

Although the island's police authorities initially announced that it was a suicide, after complaints from the family about the threats the Coast Guard officer was receiving, an in-depth investigation was launched to determine whether it was a criminal act.

In addition to the Greek FBI officers, the case is also being investigated by the Internal Affairs of the Security Forces, as the unfortunate 29-year-old served in the Coast Guard's Narcotics Division as a K9 dog handler. In fact, a few hours before he was found dead, a large amount of drugs (8 kilograms of marijuana and 1 kilogram of cocaine) was discovered in a truck that had arrived on the island by boat from the port of Piraeus. A 30-year-old Greek man has been arrested in this case, but an Albanian with permanent residence in Lesvos has escaped arrest. The police are looking for him, both for the drug issue and for his possible involvement in the death of the coast guard, who served in the Narcotics Control Unit. It is worth noting that Niko had recently married and was also planning Easter with his wife, but a few days ago he was found dead.

According to his wife and parents, he never gave the impression that he would end his life. On the contrary, his parents openly talk about the possibility of criminal activity. His mother testified that her child had received threats in the past, while in her statements she meaningfully mentioned that "in this situation, a lot of money is at stake."

Other information from his inner circle says that in the last two days he has appeared as if something was bothering him. It is worth noting that he was on medical leave, although according to other sources he could have been on duty in the drug case that was investigated at the port a few hours before he was found hanging from the marble church cross.

That day he was driving his official vehicle, but without his K9 dog, which he had left at home. The 29-year-old's family expresses serious doubts about the cause of death and has appointed a forensic technical consultant for an independent expertise, as they believe that the possibility of a criminal offense has not been sufficiently excluded. Among other things, an investigation is required into the fact that the unfortunate coast guard's feet touched the ground from the point where he was found hanging, which raises questions about whether a suicide scene was staged. His parents also filed a lawsuit against a police officer serving the Lesvos Police Directorate, who allegedly linked the coast guard's death to drug trafficking networks, in a post he made on social media in May 2024. At the time, he wrote that "they had put a wolf with a thick neck to guard the sheep."

He reposted this post, commenting on the death of the 29-year-old coastguard. Police investigating the case are being asked to investigate whether he had been involved in a fight with another person before he was found dead, as he was found with injuries to his face and other parts of his body, while one question is how he ended up in Sigri from his home in Moria after a journey of an hour and a half and even driving in the official coastguard vehicle.

Answers are expected to be provided by his mobile phone, which was found along with his shoes 87 kilometers from where he took his last breath. Police will examine who he spoke to before the fatal event, calling for their explanations for the coastguard's final hours, until the young man was found hanging.