The Department for the Prosecution of Criminal Organizations and Transnational Relations of the Organized Crime and Human Trafficking Subdivision of the Attica Security Authority dismantled a criminal organization that actively falsified the exam for a professional aircraft pilot’s license.

In the context of an organized police operation that took place in the early hours of Thursday, 11 May 2023, in the area of ​​greater Athens, with the assistance of police officers from the Organized Crime and Human Trafficking Subdivision, Thessaloniki Security Directorate and the Preveza Security Directorate, three persons aged 70 , 43 and 69 years old, respectively, members of a criminal group, as well as two alleged pilots of the aircraft.

Against them, as well as against another 16 people – candidates for pilots, a criminal case was initiated on a criminal organization – a gang that received a false certificate, by complicity, by trace and by profession, as well as for trying to obtain a false certificate through cooperation.

This was preceded by the proper use of evidence in the context of a thorough pre-investigation process. and the use of special investigative methods, the complex analysis of which revealed the presence of an operationally structured criminal organization – a gang that, since at least January 2023, has been actively engaged in falsifying the result of the examination procedure for obtaining an aircraft pilot’s license by using audiovisual equipment in order to obtain financial benefits.

The applicants for the license of a professional aircraft pilot were mainly students of flight schools who either failed to obtain the specified license after unsuccessful attempts, or did not want to study the theoretical material of the exam courses.

In particular, in terms of modus operandi, they followed the following methodology:

Candidates applied to the members of the organization either through third parties who had previously managed to obtain the license in question in the same non-standard way (“word of mouth”), or through persons who were in aviation “space” as instructors. pilot candidates.

The gang member informed the candidates about the methodology he followed, during which he would guide them through audiovisual devices so that they could select the correct answers.

In fact, the gang preferred the exams of a certified company in a European country, as the candidates’ questions were posted on an online platform, and therefore the gang members could determine the correct answers.

In the event that a candidate was enrolled in a pilot school abroad, the gang issued him a certificate of training at a pilot school of a member of an organization based in a city in northern Greece, in which they falsely claimed that he studied the theoretical material of the courses in order to participate in exams organized by the above company.

Thus, the gang members were able to screen potential foreign nationals living abroad at the company’s examination center in Greece, without being noticed.

Before conducting theoretical exams, the 70-year-old conducted tests with candidates, while instructing them on the items of clothing they should wear so that audiovisual devices would not be detected. Subsequently, on the day of the theoretical examination, he himself indicated to the subject where he should stand and dictated the correct answers.

To communicate with each other, gang members used code words such as “teleassistance” to describe an incorrect procedure, “pill” to describe a lice-type headset, and “cars” or “things” to describe audio-visual devices.

Thus, the members of the organization managed to issue professional pilot licenses to at least 5 people, with a total estimated financial benefit of at least 39,000 euros, since each applicant paid an average of 7,800 euros.

In addition, it was found that they had previously managed to issue aircraft pilot licenses to 10 more persons.

As a result of the searches, among other things, the following were found and seized:

• amount 5 570 euros,
• 7 micro cameras,
• 9 earphones,
• 23 mobile phones,
• 2 shirts, an electronic device with a microcamera is built into their inner part and on the left sleeve,
• 3 electronic antennas,
• central computer unit and
• the number of sim cards, usb, tablets.

The detainees against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated will be taken to the competent prosecutor’s office, while investigations are ongoing into checks and other cases of illegal acquisition of an aircraft pilot’s license.