On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the ELAS (Greek Police) conducted a major operation in Athens and Piraeus, resulting in the arrest of 23 individuals involved in illegal migrant smuggling and document forgery. In addition to those arrested, indictments were filed against 26 other members of the criminal organization who remain at large. According to the police, the group was hierarchically structured, with each member having a specific role. Their primary objective was to facilitate the entry and exit of migrants into and out of Greece by providing forged travel documents while charging exorbitant fees for their services.
To ensure that their clients would not raise suspicion during airport checks and boarding procedures, the organization reportedly ‘trained’ them on appropriate expressions and movements. Once onboard, they demanded photos or videos from inside the aircraft cabin as proof of successful transportation. The group’s activities included producing counterfeit documents such as work permits and driver’s licenses to ease the movement of foreigners within Greece.
The organization utilized advanced technology and specialized software to forge any type of travel document with high quality standards. They also employed the ‘Look-Alike’ method to find documents whose original holders resembled potential clients. For financial transactions, they relied on the Hawala system—an informal money transfer network based on trust among senders, recipients, and intermediaries operating behind legitimate businesses.
The investigation revealed a detailed pricing structure for their services: €3,000–€6,000 per case for international air travel, €3,500–€8,000 for entry via air travel, €1,500–€1,800 for illegal entry overland, €600–€700 for coastal transfers, and €15 daily for accommodation provision.
Counter-surveillance measures included using burner phones, encrypted messaging apps, coded language (e.g., ‘book’ meaning passport), and providing instructions to migrants to avoid detection. Investigations uncovered six front stores used for money transfers through the Hawala system, four shops distributing forged documents, two travel agencies issuing tickets, and four fully equipped forgery labs with cutting-edge equipment requiring specialized knowledge.
Authorities seized 4,831 travel documents, €68,060 in cash, four vehicles, 56 mobile phones, and numerous document molds. To date, 558 illegal transports and 3,703 counterfeit document creations have been traced, along with €329,750 moved through the Hawala system. The total illegal profit of the organization is estimated to exceed €4.8 million. All arrested individuals, who have prior convictions for similar offenses, were brought before the competent prosecutor.