Criminals produced and sold thousands of fake documents

Police dismantled a criminal organization that counterfeited identity and travel documents and sold them to illegal aliens.

In particular, in the regions of Patisia and Omonia, four immigrants were arrested for supplying fake identity documents to illegal immigrants. As noted in the corresponding statement, more than 2,700 documents (passports, identity cards, residence permits and driver’s licenses) belonging to third parties and raising doubts about the authenticity were seized, the value of each varied from 200 to 800 euros.

The total amount received from the sale of seized documents is estimated at more than 600,000 euros. Also found were 14 metal stamps used to make fake passports and an Istanbul airport entry visa stamp of dubious authenticity.

Press release from EL.AS:

The Greek police have achieved major success in their efforts to protect citizens’ personal data and the security of identification and travel documents. She dismantled a criminal organization that was engaged in counterfeiting identity cards and passports using the most modern machines to produce them.

As a result of a large-scale police operation carried out by the Migration Control Department of the Office of Foreigners of Attica in the evening hours of 09/07/2023 in the areas of Patission and Omonia, four (4) foreigners were arrested who organized a criminal organization engaged in the production and distribution of counterfeit ID cards and passports .

All those arrested were legally residing in the country (refugee and asylum seeker status), and the criminal organization had a modern workshop for producing counterfeit documents.

The criminal organization, which is being investigated for possible international links, supplied counterfeit travel cards and other identification documents to illegal migrants and operated a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with advanced technological equipment located in a second-floor apartment in the Patission district.

Complex equipment was seized, including modern printing devices with laser technology, professional thermal sealing devices and presses, computers with appropriate software, small tools – drills, etc., as well as special adhesives, colored with ultraviolet radiation, paints, threads.

A large quantity of raw materials was discovered, consisting of numerous pages of passports, transparent pages with imitation rainbow security elements of travel documents of various countries, sheets of dermantine used as covers for passports, PVC cards used to make identity cards and driver’s licenses.

More than 2,700 documents (passports, identity cards, residence permits, driver’s licenses) of questionable authenticity were seized, the value of each of which ranged from 200 to 800 euros. The total amount received from the sale of seized documents is estimated at more than 600,000 euros. Also found were 14 metal stamps used to make fake passports and an Istanbul airport entry visa stamp of questionable authenticity.

Among the seized documents, a diplomatic passport was found, which was registered as stolen/lost on 07/21/2022.

In addition to the constant fight against counterfeiting and counterfeiting, the Greek police continues to implement a plan to ensure the security of personal data, identification and travel documents for everyone, in connection with which a new secure identity card will soon be issued, thanks to which our country complies with European standards and the requirements of international authorities .

The police note that they also became aware of a list of previously issued false documents. So, after the arrest of those who made counterfeits, there will be arrests of those who purchased them. Since, according to Greek law, the use of false documents is a criminal offense and carries a prison sentence of 4 to 8 years.

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