BUSTED - CIA Base In Glyfada Suspected of Involvement In wiretapping scandal

Press reports in Greece are claiming that the CIA had set up an intelligence "base" in the area of Glyfada (southern Athens) where it performed illegal telephone interceptions and/or witretappings on prominent Greek government officials. A report that was published on Thursday in To Vima said that the "base" was discovered following an investigation led by the Greek courts. A separate article on the news site defencenet (that was analyzing the report in To Vima) speculated that these wiretappings could be linked to the phonetappings that were conducted against former Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis.

Officials have not released any information on what authorities discovered at this apartment where the wiretappings were being conducted (or base), nor how long it was in operation.

Judicial magistrate Dimitris Foukas, who is in charge of the investigation, reportedly took advantage of information obtained by the Greek intelligence unit EYP in 2009. A separate report in To Vima said that this information was provided by a reliable source but could not be substantiated by the intelligence unit during that time.

It should be reminded that Mr. Foukas is in charge of investigating the wiretapping scandal that involved the illegal telephone interceptions of some 104 politicians, police officials and other individuals between the period 2004-2005.

According to the Greek press, Mr. Foukas has already asked a Greek-American former-CIA agent, who was based in Athens for a number of years, for information. The reports said that the agent, who has since then returned to the United States, has apparently cooperated with EYP on several cases in the past – such as the arsenal found in the Iraqi embassy in Athens.

He is suspected of operating the illegal phonetapping operation.

The reports said that the agent has said that he would return to Greece to answer any further questions, but he has yet to return.

Judicial sources told To Vima that this development is extremely serious and shows that foreign secret agencies were running rogue in Greece. The paper also noted that Mr. Foukas is investigating other cases of spying by foreign agencies.