Ring Of 100 Pickpocket Thieves Busted - Traffickers Arrested - Immigrants Attack Police!

(credit: Wikipedia)

Police said on Wednesday that they had smashed a huge pickpocketing racket, with more than 100 members, chiefly comprised immigrants, most from North Africa, Syria and Pakistan, that targeted pedestrians in central Athens and other cities for years. According to press reports the gang carried out more than 355 muggings and more than 28 robberies since early 2010. They muggers targeted tourists and the elderly, in busy areas around the Acropolis, Omonia Square and Monastiraki.

In Elefsina, two Iraqi nationals and a Palestinian smugglers were arrested when police discovered that the truck that was accompanying the car they were in was carrying 41 illegal immigrants (or undocumented migrants). The arrests were made at the Elefsina toll booths (specifically police arrested 27 Syrian nationals, 8 Afghanis, 5 Somalis and a Palestianian, including a 5-year-old and a 2-month-old baby). Police officials note that the two Iraqis and the Palestinian trafficker are suspected of being active members of a human trafficking ring that smuggles illegal immigrants from Greece to other European countries, at a fee of 1,500-3,000 Euros per person.

And while this was going on, tension peaked outside the Athens Economic University in Patission street, central Athens when police mounted an operation to combat the illegal street hawkers outside of the university. Illegal immigrants who spread miscellaneous counterfeit goods on the pavement outside the university attempted to attack police officials when authorities dared to arrest one of their own. The peddlers attempted to get away after the attack but luckily police officials managed to arrest at least four persons.