The Attica Aliens Division has dismantled a specialized laboratory for the production and alteration of travel documents in Egaleo. During the operation, conducted on the night of October 8th, a 61-year-old man was arrested. He is alleged to have held a pivotal role in an illegal migrant smuggling network targeting the European Union.
The Route and Modus Operandi
According to police investigations, the suspect was allegedly part of a ring facilitating the movement of individuals from Turkey and Iraq toward Europe. The route typically involved traveling from Turkey to North Macedonia before entering Greece. In several instances, passports were clandestinely transported into the country to be processed at the 61-year-old's laboratory.
Laboratory Equipment
The facility was equipped with specialized tools to produce forged Schengen visas and counterfeit entry stamps, ensuring the documents appeared authentic. Seized items include:
- 60 digital airport entry stamps.
- 8 passports and 19 individual passport pages.
- A sewing machine for binding passport pages and various printers.
- 6 forged visas and 7 exit fee stamps.
- €4,300 in cash.
Financial Data and International Cooperation
Fees for each forged document reached up to €900, while the total profit for transporting a single migrant to a European destination is estimated at up to €8,000. The operation is part of the European EMPACT 2.2 EAST MED action plan. The Hellenic Police are collaborating with Europol to investigate the full extent of the network's activities.
