Failed assassination attempt with 10 kilograms of explosives against Greek-American businessman in Lefkada; 8 people arrested, including an Albanian

Greek authorities have arrested eight people suspected of taking part in the planning and execution of an explosive attack against a Greek-American businessman on the island of Lefkada.

The attack is believed to have been organized in January 2026, when an explosive device was placed at the businessman’s villa near the Agiofylli area. It consisted of approximately 10 kilograms of gelatin dynamite, which failed to detonate. An investigation by the Greek police has raised suspicions that the order was issued by two inmates at Malandrinos Prison, who activated other individuals outside the prison.

According to the authorities, the alleged leaders of the plot have been identified as Mikel Selimaj, 46, from Vlora, and Greek national Evstratios Nousis, 31. Selimaj, who has a criminal record involving drug-related offenses, theft and robbery, has been in pretrial detention since May 2025. He is accused of the shooting death of 41-year-old Altin Arapaj in Rafina.

Nousis has also had a criminal record since 2015 and is being held for other offenses. In January of this year, he allegedly injured inside the prison 46-year-old Dhimo Meci, from Gjirokastër, who is accused of contract killing.

The case file compiled by the DAOE Department for the Prosecution of Extortion-Related Crimes states that the six accomplices of the two inmates placed the explosives on the rear balcony of the villa. The device, packed with 10 kilograms of gelatin dynamite, also had a slow-burning fuse. Its discovery by the property caretaker made it possible to prevent the explosion and the consequences it could have caused.

The six individuals arrested for operating outside the prison face charges of “forming a criminal gang,” as well as violations of the law on weapons and explosive substances. In the same criminal case, the two inmates at Malandrinos are considered the suspects who instigated the attack.

Meanwhile, investigators are also examining another incident that may be connected to the businessman. In May, he was allegedly attacked with a firearm in Voula, but the perpetrators of that incident have yet to be identified. The reason for placing the explosives at the villa remains unclear, while the Greek investigation continues to determine the role of each person arrested and to establish whether the assassination attempt was linked to a dispute or to broader criminal activity.