Nine Greeks arrested for recruiting minors to commit criminal acts
The arrests were carried out in the context of targeted simultaneous operations in the Riganokambos - Eglykados camps in Patras, Piso Sykia in Kato Achaia and in the area of Prosfygika.
The Patras Crime Prosecution and Investigation Sub-Directorate, with the assistance of Services of the Achaia Police Directorate, dismantled a criminal organization that was active in committing robberies, aggravated thefts and human trafficking.
In order to dismantle the criminal organization, targeted and simultaneous police operations were carried out today (03-12-2025) morning in the Riganokambos - Eglykados camps in Patras, Piso Sykia in Kato Achaia and in the Prosfygika area of Patras.
During the operations, a total of –17- people, of whom –8- minors, who are treated as victims of human traffickingWhilethe-9-accused-were-arrested (-6- men and -3- women), members of the criminal organization, against whom a case was filed forestriol theft, aggravated theft, participation in a criminal organization and human trafficking (in the form of recruiting minors to commit criminal acts).
The members of the criminal organization from 13-07-2024 to 01-12-2025, in Patras, are involved in -72- cases of robberies, thefts in homes, shops and vehicles, as well as thefts of motorcycles.
From the thorough investigation of the Patras Crime Prosecution and Investigation Sub-Directorate, it was determined that the members of the group had established a criminal organization with structured action, with the aim of committing robberies and thefts in the wider Patras area, and to achieve their goal, they systematically used minors aged 10 to 15 years old, as the natural perpetrators of the criminal acts, taking advantage of the reduced imputation and more favorable criminal treatment of the latter.
The defendants, having repeatedly engaged the prosecution authorities for related offenses, secured illegal financial gain through their criminal acts and put minors at risk, fully exploiting their childhood.
The minor victims of human trafficking were examined in the presence of a child psychologist and transferred to hospitals in Patras, while the Achaia First Instance Prosecutor's Office ordered the Municipality of Patras and the Hospital Social Services to find suitable structures for their accommodation and protection.
The police officers of the Patras Crime Investigation and Prosecution Sub-Directorate are continuing the preliminary investigation to investigate the involvement of the criminal organization in any other criminal acts.
Those arrested will be brought to the Achaia District Court Prosecutor's Office.
photo by paologhedini, https://pixabay.com
