Officers from the Attica Division Management Department of Aliens, dismantled a transnational criminal organization, whose members were active in the unlawful distribution of immigrants and forgery of documents.

To end their action, a large -scale police operation in the area of Attica was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in the context of which 8 members of the criminal organization were arrested, including its leader.

At the expense of them, as well as at the expense of -5 – identified members, a case file was filed for – where appropriate – set up and participate in a criminal organization, violating the provisions on facilitating illegal entry, exit and residence of foreigners, forgery, as well as violations of legal laws.

As announced by ELAS, a long -term police investigation was preceded in collaboration with Europol and US federal services. CBP, HSI and FBI, in which the multifaceted action of the criminal organization was demonstrated:

• The illegal distribution of immigrants from Turkey to Greece,

• Hiding new -entrants in a house used as Safe House,

• Organizing secondary promotions from Greece to other European countries by air,

• The profession of drawing up fake documents used for illegal trafficking of immigrants,

• The marketing of counterfeit documents to other criminal networks operating in Greece as well as in other EU countries. and the US and

• The functioning of a state -of -the -art laboratory for counterfeit documents as well as a dawn network distribution network with fake documents, concealing the details of the real distributors and using fake elements or elements of “barriers”.

More specifically, according to ELAS, members of the criminal organization, at least since 2020, have systematically organized illegal promotions of immigrants from Turkey to Greece, mainly through Evros to Athens, charging -4,000 euros per person.

They then arranged for their short-term hospitality in a safe apartment (Safe-House) in the Omonia region, as well as their subsequent promotion to European countries, through air flights, using fake travel documents.

In support of their action, they maintained a state -of -the -art professional production laboratory for fake documents in a home in the area of Agios Panteleimonas, with special equipment and materials, which provided the possibility of mass training of counterfeit documents, consisting – among other things – of specialized professional printing equipment.

Indicatively, a large amount of raw materials, such as -33- pages of individual elements and photos of passports of various countries, -162- internal passport pages of various countries, -1.289- Cover of Passports from Dermatin with printed elements and signals of the elements and the signals of the stamps and the signals Passports of various countries etc.

As noted in the announcement, a particular feature of the professionalism of the members of the organization was the disposition of counterfeit travel documents and to immigrants-“customers” in other European countries (mainly Germany, France, Italy, Spain), the United Kingdom and the United States, Their action by the authorities is perceived.

At the same time, they had other forgery and raw materials (mainly gelatins with the safety of the respective genuine documents, pages and passport covers ready to use with the plans and signals of the corresponding genuine documents of various countries) that are necessary for the drafting of fake documents.

Furthermore, to cover their illegal acts, they used a shop with a alleged travel agency and transfer of money as a “showcase” shop. Through it, dozens of suspicious parcels were traded with fake documents to countries of the European Union and the United States of America, concealing the real details of the Aks and recipients.

Police note that the gang leader also served as a forger, while another member, among the detainees, was the operating officer of the fake document distribution center to the European Union and the United States.

A total of 5 surveys were carried out in the business and 1 in a professional area, where the full laboratory for fake documents was identified and seized.

Indeed, during the operation of the operation, two foreigners – candidates for illegal promotion were identified, who were arrested as they were deprived of travel documents and the process of returning to their countries of origin are moving against them.

Overall, in addition to the laboratory equipment (computers, printers, plasticizer, a number of tools and stationery, etc.), the surveys were found and confiscated:

• 68,605 euros, 890 Swiss francs and $ 100 US,

• 25 passports of different countries,

• 14 identity cards of various countries ready for disposal,

• 4 ‘residence permits of different countries,

• 4 ‘Driving Skill Licenses,

• 195 internal passport pages with details and photos of owners of various countries,

• 593 gelatins carrying iridescent security elements of the respective genuine documents of various countries,

• 1289 covers of passports ready for use bearing the signals of the respective documents of various countries,

• 20 mobile phones,

• 15 grams of opium drug,

• 5,000 grams of unknown white dust composition that can be used in drug adulteration as well as

• 2 cars and 1 motorcycle.

The announcement emphasizes that in investigations in Greece and abroad, a total of 2,168 fake travel documents, in traffic and non -parcels of more than -1,227,000 -euro and $ 48,000, were committed to the case.

It should be noted that this company was implemented in the context of the preparation of the National Business Plan (ESA) and the EMPACT 2.2 East Med Action of the European Union Policy Circle leading our country.

The company was attended by the Europol expert, the US CBP Association. At Europol, specialist researchers at the HSI and FBI offices of the US Embassy as well as a special fbi Miami researchers in the US, in order to assist in analyzing the information that has emerged and the further exchange of information.

The detainees were taken to the competent prosecutor, while the confiscated digital evidence and documents will be investigated laboratory in the Criminal Investigations Directorate.