Two Arrests in Alimos for Antiquities Trafficking – Valuable Items Seized

Yesterday (May 8, 2025), the police made two arrests in connection with an antiquities trafficking case in the Alimos area. The arrests of the two antiquities traffickers occurred early Thursday morning in Alimos. Charges have been filed against these individuals and another person who remains at large for forming a criminal organization, stealing monuments, accepting, and distributing monuments as proceeds of crime, and violating the declaration obligation of cultural heritage. According to the Hellenic Police announcement, detailed evaluations by officers from the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities identified and located the two suspects at a municipal parking lot in Alimos. Investigations revealed that the two arrested individuals, in contact through the third fugitive suspect, had planned together to sell ancient artifacts illegally for financial gain. They had scheduled the sale of an ancient coin, two bronze figurines, and a gold ancient crown. During physical searches conducted by police, the crown was found carefully hidden in a custom-made pouch on the belt of one of the arrested individuals. Further searches of homes in areas of Varkiza Attica and Alexandroupolis, with assistance from the Directorate for Pursuit and Detection of Crimes in Alexandroupolis, resulted in the seizure of the ancient coin, two bronze figurines, the gold crown, two books, two booklets featuring replicas of ancient coins, and a mobile phone. The seized items were examined by officials from the Numismatic Museum of Athens and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands, confirming their classification under antiquities protection laws. The arrested individuals were handed over to the competent prosecutorial authority, while investigations continue to locate the third suspect.