Greek police breaks int'l antiquities trafficking ring
Xinhua, October 6, 2016 Adjust font size:
Greek police announced Wednesday it had smashed an international ring involved in antiquities trafficking and would submit requests to five European countries for help in investigating and arresting suspected accomplices abroad, some of whom include representatives of auction houses.
A total of 26 individuals were arrested during an operation launched on Sunday in several parts of Greece, and at least 27 more suspects are sought, the regional police chief of western Greece, Major General Fotis Tsolkas announced, according to a police press release.
The arrested are Greek nationals aged 27 to 69, a 51-year-old German national, and a 33-year-old Georgian.
Among them is Greek man, 69, who along with his German wife and a 54-year-old man with his 27-year-old son, who are considered leading members of the racket, according to investigators.
The father and son were the first to be detained at the borders with Bulgaria on Sunday night. They had been travelling to Germany. Police discovered 946 ancient coins and 32 other relics in their car.
Raids followed in Athens, the northern cities of Thessaloniki and Drama, central Greece cities, Rhodes island and several other parts of western Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula. During the raids, police uncovered over 2,000 ancient coins, and 126 various items, including jewelry, and two statues from the Middle Ages.
Police also found and confiscated a dozen pistols, knives, 73 mobile phones, 17 tablets, various currency, and catalogues of auction houses, according to the announcement.
Greek police investigators estimate that in the past 14 months the trafficking ring was involved in the illegal digging and smuggling of at least 93 artifacts worth at least 650,000 euros (728,494 U.S. dollars).
Greek authorities are seeking the assistance of authorities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Britain and Bulgaria, as the investigation to locate and arrest other members of the ring abroad continues, according to the statement. Endit