Three foreigners aged 42,42, and 41 were arrested yesterday by officers of the Regional Drug Prosecution Team (PODIN) of the Central Port Authority of Rafina, of the Special Missions Unit (K.E.A.) of of the Central Port Authority of Rafina, the Directorate of Security & Protection of Maritime Borders (D.A.P.TH.AS.) as well as the Crime Prevention Suppression Team (OPKE) of Athens, after utilizing information and coordinated police operation.
Those arrested are accused of violating the legislation on “Criminal organization”, “about foreigners” and “Forgery of certificates”.
In particular, according to the announcement of the Ministry of Shipping, in a control carried out by the above officials, after appropriate utilization of information and thorough investigations in a store located in the center of Athens, the first 42-year-old was arrested for possession of a total of one thousand three hundred and twenty one ( 1,321) travel documents, as well as identification documents (passports, identity cards, residence permits, residence permits, driving licenses).
Subsequently, from the pre-investigation material and with the assistance of the officers of the Directorate of Security and Protection of Maritime Borders (D.AP.THAS.) on an informational level, the involvement of two more foreigners, 42 and 41 years old, emerged, who during a police operation in the center of Attica, inside a travel agency, they were arrested as associates of the 42-year-old, in possession of electronic equipment, mobile telephone devices, cameras, as well as the sum of four thousand two hundred and thirty euros (€4,230,000).
The modus operandi of the organized ring, which facilitated the illegal transport of immigrants from Greece to European countries, mainly by air with forged – falsified – stolen documents, is described as follows: the first person arrested undertook to receive the forged – falsified – stolen document and then to buy tickets to Europe from the aforementioned travel agency. The arrested persons of the travel agency, who allegedly are also its owners, for each ticket they issued for the illegal transport of the irregular immigrant, collected 15 euros per head in addition to the value of each ticket. The 42-year-old gave them the order to issue the tickets departing from Eleftherios Venizelos and destined for Italy, Spain and Poland. The total expected benefit of the criminal organization from the sale of the travel & identification documents is estimated to exceed 1,000,000 million euros.
The Rafina Port Authority, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, confiscated all the above found items. The seized amount of money is to be deposited in the advance deposits and loans fund, while the seized travel documents – identification documents, as well as the electronic equipment are to be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DIE), for further investigation.
Investigations at the information level continue by the Directorate of Security and Protection of Maritime Borders (DAPTHAS) in collaboration with the Central Port Authority of Rafina and are analyzed – all the evidence that has emerged is processed in depth, while at the same time the interconnection of the actions of the members of the said circuit with other members of organized circles with the same or similar criminal activities.
Latest News
Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates
According to reports, the government will resume an electricity subsidization program, given that forecasts cite disruptions – i.e. higher rates
ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock
The 6.3% rise in May 2024 is largely driven by an 8.8% increase in the crop output group, particularly due to changes in olive oil prices, and a 0.5% increase in the animal output group.
Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids
The surge in electricity demand during the heat wave and the power deficit in Balkan markets have driven up prices in the Greek wholesale electricity market.
Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists
Greece was selected by 5.9% of respondents who were asked where they would vacation this year, up from 5.4% in the same survey last year
Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive
The international ratings firm raised Greece to investment grade in early August 2023
First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros
After decades of on-again, off-again efforts to schedule regular seaplane routes to Greece's numerous island and coastal destinations the prospect now appears within sight
ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y
The same price index had decreased 20.8% from May 2022 to May 2023
Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated
Specifically, the option "Subjective opinions are prioritized over objective data" ranked highest in importance for young employees, with a score of 3.89 out of 4
OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece
By the fourth quarter of 2023, job vacancies per unemployed person had risen by more than 4, with the index reaching 446 units compared to 100 units in late 2019
OTE Group: FTTH Program Advancing in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas of Greece
This initiative will provide ultra-fast internet speeds of up to 1Gbps to over 350,000 households and businesses in semi-urban and rural areas across the country