Dismantled by the Property Crimes Prosecution Division of the Office. Safety Attica and assistance from the Attica Aliens Authority, Thessaloniki Security Authority and Thessaloniki Aliens Authority, a criminal organization involved in the trafficking of illegal immigrants. immigrants from Turkey to Greece and further to their promotion to other European countries, as well as the theft of vehicles.

The investigation began in connection with the increase in the theft of large vehicles from Attica, many of which are located in Northern Greece on the axis of Egnatia, i.e. on the section from Evros to Thessaloniki.

When the cars were searched, fingerprints of foreigners who had previously been marked (arrested) for violating the Aliens Act were found.

Their phones were hacked, human traffickers were identified – their accomplices, as well as the thieves who worked with them (3 Greeks and one Albanian). The latter were arrested 3 or 4 times for the same offense (carjacking).

The leader is in prison. He is a Syrian with a long criminal record, first arrested in the country in 2009, and the last case against him was filed in 2018.

27 car thefts attributed to their owners were detected, 2 attempted thefts, 4 illegal turnovers were detected. However, it is estimated to be much more.

The criminal organization had such a structure that ensured its continuous activity, regardless of the arrest of any of its members.

The sums of money they required to transport and accommodate each foreigner were structured into:

• 6000 euros for a transfer from Turkey to Greece,
• 1500 euros for a transfer from Greece to North Macedonia,
• 3,000 euros for a transfer from Greece to Central European countries
• From 800 to 1600 euros for issuing a fake passport, depending on the country
• From 100 to 300 euros for the issuance of a driver’s license, depending on the country

For their financial transactions, they used either cash in private meetings or money transfers using the HAWALA method.

As part of the same operation, a total of 25 foreigners were found in houses in Athens and Thessaloniki who did not have documents for staying in our country and who entered our country from Turkey a few days ago.

Following physical and house searches in Athens and Thessaloniki, among others, the following were found and confiscated:

• -€26,670, SYP -9,000 and Turkish pounds 19
• 12 cars and 1 motorcycle
• 3 car brains
• 1.65 grams of cannabis and 0.5 grams of cocaine
• car key programmer and rf locator
• many electronic devices
• number of mobile phones, SIM cards and calling cards
• handwritten notes and personal documents
• car keys
• 2 rings
• 27 car thefts were uncovered and attributed to their rightful owners.

In addition, the detainees had previously been charged with similar crimes.

The detainees, against whom a criminal case had been initiated, were taken to the competent prosecutor’s office.