Authorities in Thesprotia and Thessaloniki dismantled an illegal network trafficking refugees and migrants, arresting 10 individuals who, by exploiting human suffering and the hope for a better future, had amassed 750,000 euros.
The ring had been operating since at least June 2025, and the investigation uncovered 41 instances of the transport of more than 500 migrants, with the alleged criminal organization’s illicit financial gain estimated at at least 750,000 euros.
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Their journey began on the mountain trails of Albania
According to the police investigation, the migrants came from Nepal, Yemen, and China. They entered Greece on foot, via rugged mountain trails in Albania, with their first destination being areas in Thesprotia.
There, members of the ring provided them with temporary lodging in shelters or makeshift tents, as well as food, water, and SIM cards, charging them exorbitant fees. They would then arrange for their transport via intercity buses, mainly to Athens and Patras, or in some cases abroad.
They worked without papers or rights
According to a statement by the Hellenic Police, many of the migrants were sent to work in agriculture in the Peloponnese, where they were employed without following legal procedures. In many cases, members of the organization withheld their passports as collateral to ensure repayment of the money they owed for their transportation through their labor.
Of the ten arrested, three are foreign nationals—two men from Syria and one woman from Albania—while the remaining seven are Greek. A 26-year-old accomplice is also implicated in the case and is already in pretrial detention. Nine arrests were made in Sayada, Thesprotia, and the tenth in Thessaloniki.
In an effort to avoid detection by the authorities, the suspects used a closed communication network via online applications to exchange information about police movements, as stated in the announcement.
During searches of three homes and a store, three cars, cell phones, and electronic devices, 1,150 euros, and four passports were seized.
At the same time, 21 people were arrested for not having valid documents authorizing their stay in the country. Five of them were found in the home of an alleged member of the ring, where they were living and working illegally at his business.
The police operation was carried out in cooperation with Europol and with the participation of police forces from Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, and Patras. Those arrested are expected to be brought before the competent judicial authority in Thesprotia.
Source: cnn.gr
