Culture News Blog

ATHENS, Greece - Three policemen were injured, one critically, Sunday evening, when they were ambushed by gunmen on the island of Crete.

The three were part of an operation to arrest marijuana growers in the resort village of Malades, 15 kilometres south of Heraklion, Crete's largest city.

At 8:30 p.m. local time, the police patrol was attacked by people armed with assault rifles, most likely AK-47s.

Gun ownership, regarded as part of traditional Cretan culture, remains widespread on the island despite attempts by police to crack down on it.

Cannabis growing is rife in remote mountain villages, and drug gangs frequently open fire on police helicopters or cars patrolling their areas.

Last November, a large convoy of policemen was ambushed near the village of Zoniana, leading to a major police operation and dozens of arrests.

At a meeting of top policemen last month, Tsiatouras pointed at statistics showing increased crime in Crete and singled out police chiefs from the island for criticism.

He told them to do more to combat crime, especially drug-related robberies and theft.

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