THE Greek policethrough the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Human Trafficking of the Attica Security Directorate, participated in joint operational actionunder its coordination Europol and her Interpolin the context of which the dismantling of a transnational criminal organization was achieved, the members of which were systematically active in the trafficking of immigrants.

The operation, carried out under the coordination of Europol and Interpol, also involved police authorities from Spain, Germany, Serbia and North Macedonia, while on the day of action in June 2023 a total of 62 people were arrested and a number of forged documents and counterfeiting equipment were seized.

How did they act?

As it emerged, the members of the ring acted in an organized and structured modus operandi in order to achieve their goal, which was the illegal trafficking of Cuban nationals to Spain.

Specifically, the traffickers traveled by air to Serbia, and from there on foot and by road, through North Macedonia, to Athens. Subsequently, members of the organization who were based in Athens, provided them with accommodation and travel documents to travel to Spain via Athens International Airport.

During the operation carried out in the morning and midday hours of 21-06-2023 in Kallithea and Nea Smyrni, 2 members of the ring were arrested, who provided accommodation to smugglers, as well as 3 more people for possession of documents of dubious authenticity of third parties and illegal entry into the country.

What did the investigations find?

Houses were searched, where -among others- the following were found and confiscated:

  • a number of photocopies, mainly of identity cards of the Spanish Authorities and administrative decisions on asylum and extension of detention,
  • a number of travel documents of dubious authenticity, allegedly issued by the Spanish authorities to third parties,
  • photocopies of airline reservations and boarding passes of third parties,
  • proof of remittance and
  • 1 mobile phone.

Additionally, it emerged that one of the arrested members of the ring had an outstanding warrant for grand theft.

The case file that was filed includes the – as the case may be – offenses of professionally and subsequently facilitating the illegal residence of citizens of third countries, with the purpose of obtaining income, attempting to prevent arrest, possession of documents of third parties and illegal entry into the country.

Those arrested were taken to the competent Prosecutor.