Greek Police have dismantled a criminal organization trafficking migrants to other European countries. A total of 13 members of the organization were arrested in Thessaloniki, Greece, including the 33 year-old kingpin of the racket, 11 foreigners and a 31 year-old woman. Altogether, 103 people were taken to the police station.
The arrests resulted from a police swoop on fifteen houses in Thessaloniki.
According to the police, the 31 year-old woman was alleged to have facilitated the racket’s financial transactions as she was an employee at a foreign exchange bureau.
At the same time, five more people were arrested during the operation for other offences such as drug trafficking, while another twenty-one foreigners who have been living illegally in Greece were detained pending deportation.
More specifically, the investigation showed that the criminal organization, which was formed in June 2013, had an internal hierarchical structure with a specific methodology, mainly characterized by their activity in sending illegal migrants from Greece to other European countries through FYROM and Serbia. The members were also involved in kidnappings of foreigners to cover the costs of trafficking.
During searches of places used by the organization, the Greek Police found and seized 14.6 grams of cocaine, 15.5 grams of cannabis, 4,500 euros, several mobile phones and documentation of their transactions with money transfer companies.
Those arrested will be brought before the Prosecutor, while investigations are continuing to clarify the extent of the organization’s illegal activities.
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