Police handcuffed 10 people at noon on Wednesday (12.11.2025) as they are accused of participating in criminal organization which he set up scams with monkey car purchases, thefts and even statements about non-existent vehicle thefts in order to make money from the insurance companies. His total profit exceeds 1 million euros.
Others are included in the file filed 28 people. From the research that was done, it was also established their mode of action and the hierarchy that existed within the criminal organization so that the members proceed with targeted fraud or theft cars so as not to raise suspicions.
In detail, on Wednesday and in the context of a police operation, the authorities arrested the accused in Nea Makri, Acharnes, Ano Liosia, Kypseli, Kolonos and Tyrnavos.
As evidenced by the investigation, the perpetrators had set up an entire “business” so that they could steal cars or fake their thefts in order to “cheat” the insurance companies. At the same time they did smuggling on cars with fake registration documents.
The total benefit obtained by the criminal organization exceeds 1,030,000 euros.
Their modus operandi
The way of action of the members was also proven from the research. Taking advantage of the loophole in the technical control process of vehicles entering our country from abroad, they issued fake purchase invoices or fake driving licenses of foreign authorities.
Through these documents, they classified the vehicles in Greece, while in many cases they created the accompanying documents, so that they could then remove a vehicle of the same type, model and color.
To remove the vehicles, the members of the organization used technical means and then they tampered with chassis and engine numbersso that they appear as legitimately classified. Immediately afterwards they were taken out again to sale via the internet or the were transferring to third parties, who falsely stated that they had stolen them in order to get money from the insurance companies.
To make their profits look legitimate, they had set up car dealership – “ghost” through which a total of 33 vehicles have been registered since 2022.
They did not hesitate to use as managers of the company and people who were unaware of the activity and they received simple symbolic sums.
But their action does not end there. They would rent vehicles from a long-term rental company and, a few days later, falsely report them as stolen, handing the vehicles over to the organization to do with as they please.
The damage they caused to the said company is estimated to exceeds 300,000 euros.
The “brain” the “accountant” and the other 6
To achieve its purpose, the organization had a structured hierarchy and distribution of roles:
- 52 years old, had the guiding role, undertaking the drafting of the forged documents and the coordination of the organization’s actions,
- 35-year-old, was identifying the people who would be used as “fronts” and took care of her money laundering through businesses that were apparently operating legally,
- 44-year-old and 34-year-old were responsible for the sale of the stolen and forged vehiclesguiding the “fronts” in the false declarations of theft,
- 50 years oldacted as accountant of the organization, managed the finances and took care of the creation and management of the virtual company by a 53-year-old and a 25-year-old,
- A 36-year-old, a 30-year-old and a 46-year-old were undertaking the removal of the vehicles, the change of their details and their promotion for sale.
In total, from the searches carried out in houses and parking areas, the following were found and confiscated:
- 73,330 euros,
- 25 packs of cigarettes, without a special consumption tax strip,
- 2 two-wheeled motorcycles,
- pistol with magazine and -3- possibly unfired cartridges,
- cell phone crowd,
- number of vehicle registrations,
- lot of car keys,
- number of invoices,
- loads of pepper spray and
- air gun gas
Also, a total of 13 vehicles and one motorcycle were seized, which will be examined in order to establish the legality of their origin.
In addition to the arrests, people who allegedly acted individually were also brought in.
From the investigation and preliminary investigation so far, it emerged that the members of the organization have stolen 16 cars, made 13 false declarations of vehicle thefts to defraud insurance companies, and there have been 9 misappropriations of rental vehicles. In addition, they are accused of 5 cases of smuggling counterfeit vehicles through the use of false import and registration documents.
The arrested persons, who are known to the authorities, were brought to the competent prosecutor’s office, while one arrested person, against whom charges are pending warrant of arrest for felony fraud and forgery, will also be taken to the Criminal Execution Prosecutor.