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The police estimate that several million euros, which can not be identified at that time, represent a loss of income for the Greek state from the smuggling of gold from the two major dismantled circuits. by EL.AS. It is characteristic that only the value of seizures is approximately 2 million euros.
A total of 63 people were arrested for this extreme case, while the 51-year-old chain of pawnbrokers, according to the police, had a leading role alongside its direct partner, a Turkish national of 39, Syrian origin responsible for the business sector. The other circuit was led by a 65-year-old Greek goldsmith.
As representatives of EL.AS. a simultaneous police operation took place yesterday morning in Athens, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis and Volos, where 55 Greek nationals and 8 foreigners were arrested, while another 22 people were identified and sought in the file thus constituted. It should be noted that among those arrested, there is also a policeman who serves in Attica and who was an informant.
At the expense of those arrested, a bodily record has been established, criminal organization offenses, criminal offenses relating to the Customs Code, criminal trafficking, the acceptance and disposition of proceeds of crime, prevention and the suppression of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, usury, falsification, the right of weapons and addictive substances.
Amounts of gold having circulated on both circuits in Turkey and probably also in other countries, according to police estimates, came from the cast of jewelry of unknown origin and from the rest of the country. other valuables held through purchases and promises, and it would appear that part of them were proceeds of crime. It should be noted that two circuits cooperated and "beat" gold, € 1,000 per kilo less than the value of the scoreboard. In fact, according to the police, they engaged in illegal transactions without the risk of random checks, as they were generally "lawful" and operated under the guise of legitimate business activities, while they traded daily with each other. sums exceeding 400,000 euros. One of the main characteristics of the two criminal groups was that they financially financed their members on a daily basis, with the aim of acquiring almost all the gold that citizens promised or sold to pawnbrokers. for a minimum of money, purchase gold from any source of irrelevant origin.
The export of gold to Turkey is mainly through tourist buses taking the Athens – Istanbul route and vice versa. It is characteristic that the money of 12 000 euros, a gold coin, as well as 17 ingots weighing 24.6 kg, were found and seized by one of the authors who were arrested in a tourist bus, the value estimated at around 600,000 euros.
As for the profits made by the two circuits, they legalized them by buying goods such as the purchase of luxury houses, land, vehicles and boats, by developing businesses and other actions, while noting that Authors had a good life. In addition, in their inter-phone communications, activists used coded words and phrases to describe the objects they were operating on, for example: "Sugar and Yellow" was in gold, "fine" in 24-carat gold, " a bit heavy "was a kilo of gold," around "the British pounds," girls "the gold books of England," metal / iron ", melted gold in the form of scrap, "travelers" package containing gold and silver, "lines" and "papers" the money.
The police raids carried out in the houses and shops used by the parties involved were discovered and seized: gold plates weighing 30.4 kg for € 545,000. Plates and pure gold, weighing 6.2 kilos, worth 235,600 euros. 513 pounds of silver, worth 220,590 euros. 1,121 pounds of gold, worth € 330,695. 360 pieces of gold. 18 precious stones. Ring with gemstone, worth 56 900 euros. 2 images of apparent age. The sum of money is 850 000 euros. Checks of 60,500 euros. 5 firearms. 15 hunting rifles. 2 air guns. 212 cartridges. Little cannabis.
Those arrested, along with the case against them, were taken to the Athens Office of the Defamation Prosecutor.
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