Aigaleo forgery laboratory dismantled in migrant smuggling bust

forgery laboratory migrant smuggling fake passports Aigaleo Schengen visas

Greek police have dismantled a specialized forgery laboratory in Aigaleo used by an international migrant smuggling ring. During a coordinated operation on the night of October 8, authorities arrested a 61-year-old man accused of forgery, illegal possession of travel documents, and violating immigration laws.

The investigation revealed that the suspect played a key role in a network smuggling migrants from Turkey and Iraq toward the European Union via North Macedonia. The ring utilized the laboratory to produce or alter documents, including fake Schengen visas and entry stamps, to facilitate the appearance of legal movement within the EU. In some instances, migrants entered Greece illegally, while in others, their passports were secretly transported to Greece for processing by the suspect.

Authorities seized a variety of items, including eight passports, 19 passport pages, six fake visas, 60 digital airport entry stamps, and 14 leather passport covers. Forgery equipment such as printers, a scanner, a laptop, and a sewing machine used for binding pages were also confiscated, along with 4,300 euros in cash. The cost for a single forged document reportedly reached 900 euros, while the ring charged up to 8,000 euros to transport a migrant to a European country.

Entities

Aigaleo · European Union · Greek Police · Hellenic Police · Iraq · North Macedonia · Turkey

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 13 SOURCES] A fully equipped laboratory for forging travel documents was discovered in Aigaleo during a coordinated operation on the night of October 8. lawandorder.gr · www.newsit.gr · www.thetoc.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Police seized eight passports, six fake visas, 19 passport pages, and 60 digital airport entry stamps. lawandorder.gr · www.newsit.gr · www.thetoc.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] A 61-year-old man was arrested and faces charges of forgery and illegal possession of passports and travel documents. lawandorder.gr · www.newsit.gr · www.thetoc.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] The laboratory produced fake Schengen visas and entry stamps to facilitate legal-looking movement within the EU. lawandorder.gr · www.newsit.gr · www.thetoc.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · +8 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The smuggling ring charged up to 8,000 euros for transporting a migrant to a European country. www.newsit.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.flash.gr · www.koutipandoras.gr
[● 10 SOURCES] Authorities confiscated 4,300 euros in cash and various forgery equipment, including printers and a sewing machine. lawandorder.gr · www.thetoc.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · seleo.gr · www.capital.gr · +5 more
[● 3 SOURCES] The cost for a single forged document could reach 900 euros. www.newsit.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.flash.gr
[● 13 SOURCES] The suspect was a key member of a ring smuggling migrants from Turkey and Iraq toward European Union countries via North Macedonia. lawandorder.gr · www.newsit.gr · www.thetoc.gr · kosmoslarissa.gr · www.dimokratia.gr · +8 more