Police have arrested one of Greece's most-wanted criminals believed to have masterminded the helicopter escape of two prisoners from Korydalos Prison last year, authorities said yesterday.

Yiannis Skaftouros, aged 38, was arrested around noon on Monday in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, after police intercepted the car in which he was traveling.

The police operation involved the use of guns and a flash hand grenade to disorient people without causing lasting injury, according to authorities.

Skaftouros is believed to have organized and partly implemented the escape of convicted murderer Alket Rizai and Vassilis Palaiocostas by airlifting them out of the Athens's Korydallos Prison courtyard last year.

Skaftouros is also suspected of being involved in the illegal fuel and cigarette trade, while also being connected to a series of different violent gangland attacks and murders in the western suburbs of Athens, police sources added.