Greek police have dismantled two criminal organisations suspected of illegally searching for, possessing and trafficking antiquities, arresting 11 people, including the alleged leaders of both groups. One of the suspects is a serving military officer.
According to the Hellenic Police, the two organisations engaged in illegal searches for antiquities, illicit excavations, the acquisition and sale of stolen archaeological artefacts, and the unlawful export of cultural property for commercial purposes.
Police conducted a large-scale operation on Thursday across the regional units of Kozani, Kavala, Xanthi, Drama, Rhodope and Evros, deploying 60 officers from the Northern Greece Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime.
Officers arrested 11 people — 10 Greek nationals and one foreign national — including the alleged leaders of the two organisations. Authorities have filed charges, as applicable, relating to participation in a criminal organisation, violations of legislation protecting antiquities and cultural heritage, and weapons offences.
Months-long investigation uncovered the networks
The operation followed a months-long preliminary investigation by the Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Protection Office, part of the Department for Combating Human Trafficking and Illicit Goods. Investigators analysed intelligence, conducted physical surveillance and used special investigative techniques to establish the structure and hierarchy of the two organisations and identify the roles of their members.
Investigators determined that the groups had operated in a similar manner since at least September 2025. Their primary objective was to locate, acquire and distribute antiquities, either through illegal searches and clandestine excavations or by approaching people who already possessed archaeological objects and wanted to sell them.
The groups allegedly developed networks of local contacts who supplied information about areas of archaeological interest and potential targets. When selecting locations, members considered not only the likelihood of finding antiquities but also accessibility, expected returns and the risk of detection by authorities.
To carry out their activities, the suspects allegedly used specialised equipment, including metal detectors and ground-scanning devices. They travelled to archaeological sites in four-wheel-drive vehicles and, when their searches indicated the presence of antiquities, conducted excavations using tools such as pickaxes, hammer drills and portable generators.
Alleged leaders directed separate operations
In the first organisation, the alleged leader exercised central operational control. Investigators say he gathered intelligence, selected targets, organised equipment, implemented precautions against detection and distributed the proceeds of illegal activities.
He allegedly had experience assessing the value of recovered objects and decided which antiquities to acquire in exchange for money, with the intention of subsequently selling them to contacts abroad. Other members allegedly participated in illegal archaeological searches and excavations or helped acquire and distribute archaeological objects.
In the second organisation, the alleged leader — a serving military officer — regularly participated in illegal archaeological searches and clandestine excavations, mainly in the Evros region.
Investigators also found that another member had compiled an archive of locations of archaeological interest over an extended period. The archive drew on old documents, maps and information from field investigations and allegedly helped the organisation plan its activities.
Other members reportedly gathered information and carried out illegal searches and excavations under instructions and in exchange for payment.
Suspects allegedly used coded language to evade police
Investigators also identified methods the groups allegedly used to conceal their activities. Members mainly met in person and employed counter-surveillance techniques. When they needed to communicate by telephone, they used coded words and expressions to hide the real subject of their conversations from law enforcement authorities.
According to police, their coded vocabulary included:
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“Work”, “serious work”, “warm-up” and “sports” referred to illegal archaeological searches.
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“Jogging”, “exercise” and “a walk” described trips into the countryside to conduct illegal searches.
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“Exercise equipment” referred to metal detectors, ground-scanning devices and other equipment used in searches and clandestine excavations.
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“Charging” described preparing the necessary equipment, particularly metal detectors.
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“Coin” referred to ancient coins.
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“Whites” referred to silver and gold ancient coins in good condition with significant commercial value.
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“Miracle” referred to discovering ancient artefacts of considerable value.
Both organisations allegedly possessed and extensively used specialised metal-detection and ground-scanning equipment, which their members handled with considerable familiarity.
Police seize ancient coins and archaeological artefacts
During searches of homes and business premises, police seized a large collection of objects covered by Greece’s legislation on antiquities and cultural heritage.
The seized items included numerous ancient coins, a bronze figurine depicting a horse and rider, fragments of bronze bells, metal objects such as rings, buckles, pins, vessel handles and decorative fittings, lead objects, fragments of clay vessels and amphorae, decorated pottery sherds, a fragment of an architectural roof ornament, four marble fragments from architectural elements and a stone fragment of architectural decoration.
The investigation forms part of the authorities’ efforts to combat the illegal excavation, trafficking and export of Greece’s archaeological heritage.
