Vehicle theft and "laundering" ring in Attica: 13 arrests
Police arrested 13 people for an organised vehicle theft ring, forgery and insurance fraud with profits exceeding 1 million euros.
Vehicle theft and "laundering" ring in Attica: 13 arrests
On Monday morning, officers from the Spata-Artemis Crime Investigation and Detection Department, with assistance from colleagues in Northeast Attica, carried out an operation that led to the arrest of 13 people. The detainees are aged between 22 and 38 and are accused of involvement in a criminal organisation operating in the broader region.
Evidence from the investigation indicates that the group had been active since March 2023. Members stole vehicles from various neighbourhoods in Attica. After illegally acquiring the vehicles, they subjected them to forgery, changing even chassis numbers, so that they would appear legitimate and could be sold on the market for significant financial gain.
Their illegal activity extended beyond the thefts. The leadership of the organisation is said to have exploited some of the stolen vehicles for insurance fraud. They created fake traffic accidents and subsequently sought compensation from insurance companies, unlawfully obtaining money.
The authorities have so far solved 33 cases of vehicle theft and 9 insurance frauds. The organisation's total profit is calculated to exceed 1 million euros, a fact that demonstrates the scale and profitability of their criminal activity.
Investigations are continuing to fully map out the ring and to examine the possible involvement of other individuals.
Source: ERT