Attempted kidnapping of young Greek shipowner Martinos

It appears only the coolness of 33-year-old Andreas-Ioannis Martinos foiled the attempt as he drove away from the family¹s headquarters at 3.30pm just off the  major Athens artery, Vouliagmenis Avenue which runs from the city centre to the southern coastal suburbs. The family's tanker company, Minerva Marine headed up by his father Andreas, is located in the seaside district of Voula.

A car stopped behind Martinos’ vehicle as he was reversing away from the firm’s offices. At the same time, a minivan pulled up in front of him and two armed men got out.

Martinos rammed the car behind him several times, and it ultimately caught fire, and he was able to reverse at high speed into the company’s secure parking garage.

The suspected kidnappers got into the van and drove off, leaving the other burning vehicle. The minivan was later found by police. It had been set on fire. Officers suspect a third vehicle, an SUV, was involved in the attempted abduction.

It has been reported by local media, that in 2010 police warned the family of a plan to kidnap a member and some of them were given training on how to deal with such a situation, the intended victim is said to have been one who took the training.

The attempted abduction took place a short distance from the spot where shipowner Pericles Panagopulos was kidnapped early 2009 to be freed after six days in captivity when a multi-million dollar ransom was paid by his family.

Eighteen of 20 suspected members of the so-called crime syndicate believed to be behind a string of robberies and the kidnapping of Panagopulos, were caught tried and sent to prison. The leader subsequently escaped and is being linked to the Martinos incident. Further, Minerva’s headquarters are opposite the headquarters of the Panagopulos group.

Known as Kikos, Martinos is the son of Andreas Martinos, a member of one of Greece's leading shipping dynasties. Father Andreas is the youngest of three brothers, Thanassis owner of Eastern Mediterranean and Dinos, owner of Thenamaris, who together control around 135 ships of a total of 14.4m dwt including tankers, dry bulk carriers, container ships and LNG carrier newbuilds on order.

Though one of Greece's most respected shipping families, it is also one of its most invisible, and there has been no official comment on the incident from the Martinos family, though a first cousin, Georgia Martinou, daughter of Thanassis, is an MP with the governing New Democracy party.