They had a fleet of rental cars to transport migrants. They were transported along the Egnatia road to Thessaloniki, and in many cases they got into bloody traffic accidents. They were particularly cruel, and if they did not collect all the money from the unfortunate, then they locked them in prison apartments in the capital until they “sorted out” their debts.

Cause of the criminal organization who was actively involved in the transfer of migrants from the Greek-Turkish border of Evros. inside the country and was dismantled a few days ago by the Patras Security Office.

It is one of the largest migrant trafficking networks since, as an EL.AS investigation revealed, the organization carried out a total of 51 transfers of foreigners, trafficking at least 228 people who paid the traffickers up to 5,500 euros per person.

“Brains” of the organization

The coordinators are two people – the “brains” of the organization, a Pakistani and a Greek prisoner. The persons mentioned allegedly communicated with the members of the group, giving instructions about the time and place of the illegal traffic, which was carried out in cars rented from car rental companies.

In particular, the Pakistani took on the role of talking to slave traders from Turkey and agreeing on the time when migrants should be at the border in Evros to be picked up by other members of the organization for their movement inside the country.

For his part, the Greek, who is a prisoner, contacted the members of the organization who were in Greece and gave them instructions regarding the transfer of immigrants from Evros to Thessaloniki.

The precautionary measures taken by the members of the gang are evidenced by the fact that most of the participants did not know each other in order to avoid leaks, and also so that in the event of a member’s arrest, the authorities would not reach the core of the organization.

Transport with coordinates

As explained in cathimerini.gr sources familiar with the case, the organization acted as follows:

Members of the group visited car rental companies and rented cars with forged documents. After that, these participants received messages with specific coordinates, as well as information about the time when each vehicle should be at these coordinates.

Then they went to a predetermined point, not far from the Greek-Turkish border, left their cars there and left. Other members of the group then “got jobs” by picking up immigrants from cooperating Turkish slave traders, loading them into trucks and transporting them to Thessaloniki.

“From the image provided by the cars, it is obvious that they have been involved in traffic accidents from time to time, as they have been damaged in many places, and some of them have been damaged. The investigation that led to the “dismantling” of the ring began after reports from car rental companies that some astute people had rented cars and never returned them. So it was established that the documents provided by the residents were fake, and from there the investigation went as far as dismantling the chain, ”the same sources note.

Apartments – prisons

As mentioned above, for transport, the organization received up to 5,500 euros from each migrant, depending on the region they wanted to get to. In particular, if an immigrant would like to enter Greece and stay there, he would pay between 1,500 and 2,000 euros. However, if he wanted to pass through Greece and continue on to Europe, he paid between 5,000 and 5,500 euros.

But what if one of these people didn’t have the money the ring wanted? The organization then transferred him to certain apartments in Thessaloniki, where he was kept in detention until he “paid off” his debts.

“At least three apartments have been identified in which the leaders locked people who did not have the necessary money. They were kept there until they somehow found the money, and then they were released,” informed sources said.

To transport illegal immigrants, members of the criminal organization used 51 cars, of which 47 were rented and stolen from the regions of Achaia, Attica, as well as from the Cyclades and the Ionian Islands.

The countdown to the dismantling of the ring began on Monday morning (17.10), when police officers of the Patras Security Directorate organized and carried out a coordinated police operation during which nine people (four foreigners and five citizens) were arrested in various areas of Attic men). At the same time, they identified another 30 people, accomplices and members of a criminal organization involved in the trafficking of immigrants.

It should be noted that a criminal case has been initiated against the defendants on the facts of creating a criminal organization and participation in it, forgery of certificates, false testimony, false complaints, embezzlement, violation of the Code on Immigration and Social Integration and violation of legislation on the prevention and suppression of money laundering.