Northern Greece antiquities rings dismantled by police

Greek authorities have dismantled two organized crime rings specializing in the illegal excavation, acquisition, and trafficking of antiquities across Northern Greece. Following a large-scale operation involving 60 police officers, 11 individuals were arrested in the prefectures of Kozani, Kavala, Xanthi, Drama, Rodopi, and Evros. The suspects include 10 Greek nationals and one foreign national, among whom are the ringleaders, including an active-duty military member.

The investigation, which spanned several months, revealed that the organizations had been active since at least September 2025. The groups utilized sophisticated equipment, including metal detectors, ground-penetrating radar, drones, and geophysical systems to locate and extract artifacts. They also maintained a network of local informants to identify high-value targets and accessible sites.

Charges against the arrested individuals include participation in a criminal organization, violations of cultural heritage protection laws, and illegal possession of weapons. Authorities seized a significant amount of specialized equipment, tools, weapons, and cash during the raids.