Greek police arrested two men in Thessaloniki on Saturday after disrupting an alleged attempt to deliver heavy weapons to members of a Turkish criminal organisation.
The weapons seized included a long-barrelled military sniper rifle and a submachine gun of the Uzi type. Police also included a 49-year-old Turkish national, who is already in custody, in the case file.
The Northern Greece Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime carried out the operation on the afternoon of September 12.
Officers arrested a 30-year-old Greek national and a 36-year-old Turkish national, while authorities also brought charges against the 49-year-old Turkish detainee.
Depending on their individual involvement, the charges include aggravated illegal possession of weapons, aiding and abetting aggravated weapons possession, drug possession and disobedience, as well as participation in a criminal organisation.
Suspects emerged from storage facility
According to the Hellenic Police, authorities had received information about an imminent transfer of heavy weapons in Thessaloniki and their planned delivery to members of a Turkish criminal organisation.
During the operation, officers spotted the 30-year-old and 36-year-old as they left a ground-floor storage facility attached to a shop. They were carrying a paper package and a bag.
Police found a military rifle, a submachine gun, magazines, a scope and ammunition inside the packages.
During the police check, the 30-year-old allegedly tried to flee. Officers stopped him a short distance away and arrested him.
Sniper rifle, Uzi and 33 rounds seized
Police searched the storage facility, homes and vehicles, as well as the suspects themselves, and seized a long-barrelled military sniper rifle without a stock, a Uzi-type submachine gun, two magazines, a scope, a military rifle stock and 33 rounds of ammunition.
Officers also seized four mobile phones, 30 tablets of a pharmaceutical preparation, two pairs of Greek vehicle registration plates, two UHF radio transceivers and a Greek passport.
Authorities also found that the 49-year-old Turkish national, who remains in custody, faces a Red Notice from Interpol Turkey.
According to the police statement, Turkish authorities are seeking him to serve a prison sentence of more than 10 years for repeated fraud involving information systems, banks or credit institutions.
The two arrested men were brought before the competent prosecutor.
