A former Greek wrestling champion and two Bulgarian men were detained on Wednesday after allegedly using violence to compete with donut vendors in a beach resort on the Halkidiki peninsula near Thessaloniki, the Associated Press has reported.

Following complaints that the trio had been violently curbing the trade of other vendors on Paliouri beach, an undercover officer posed as a doughnut seller and was reportedly attacked by the three suspects.

The three have been charged with blackmail, fraud and with violating food safety violations after doughnuts were found stashed in a derelict hotel that was used by bathers as a toilet.