The political messages sent by the Minister of Citizen Protection, Yiannis Oikonomou, during his visit to Evros, were addressed by both smugglers and self-appointed “sheriffs”.

The Minister of Citizen Protection was on Monday and Tuesday in the area as part of the visit of government officials.

Yiannis Oikonomou, however, himself toured places related to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the Hellenic Police in order to be informed first-hand about the planning and the needs that exist in the area.

As he said during his visit to Evros, Frachtis and Feres, “a huge, very effective and important effort is being made by the Greek Police to monitor our borders. Not only the Greek borders, but at the same time the borders of the European Union”.

Yannis Oikonomou’s message was clear and strict for the smugglers as well. As, characteristically, he stressed: “Greece is in a permanent open front with smugglers and those who do not respect our borders – the borders of the country and the European Union – and those who do not even respect human life, subjecting people to very great risks. On the border line of the Evros, and in Thrace in general, Greece is fighting every day for the observance of legality and the protection of our sovereignty, against organized criminal rings that do not respect human rights and are scheming against our Homeland.

Of special note was his visit to the Mestis Toll Road, on Egnatia Road where he spoke with police officers, who are dealing with illegal phenomena in the field day and night, in particular the practice of smugglers using the National Road by turning around and moving in the opposite traffic lane, transporting illegal immigrants and endangering the safety of drivers and passengers.

This is, after all, an issue that he personally dealt with via video conference with those involved in the first days of his term in Katehaki.

Minister PRO.PO was also clear regarding the action of the self-appointed “sheriffs”, who have recently been looking for immigrants wandering in the countryside, immobilizing them and filming them for viewing on the internet, in which the Police have carried out direct actions with arraignments and arrests and has referred the cases to Justice.

As, characteristically, he argued “It is impermissible and unacceptable for some to think that they can replace the State. They are doing great harm to the Motherland and I am fully aware of what I am saying. Greece is a European State of Law, it is an organized state and in organized states, it is not only important why you react and what you do to react, but also how. And how in democracies it is determined by the State with its organs, the organized state with its procedures and functions. The Greek Police, the Greek Security Authorities, have as a priority the shielding of Evros. We understand the anguish of the citizens, but we are here organized – without discrediting, without nihilism, all the previous time – intensifying our presence, applying the laws of the organized state, to fully shield the area and stand on the side of society. To re-inspire the feeling of security and protection, which the region and the citizens need”.