A smuggling ring involved in illicit excavations and the trafficking of archaeological treasures has been dismantled in Northern Greece. One of the key figures in this operation, a 63-year-old man, was responsible for coordinating the export of these ancient artifacts abroad.
For years, the members of this ring had allegedly been "mapping out" archaeological sites and gathering information, either from official Archaeological Directorates or from individuals familiar with remote areas across Northern Greece.
During late-night hours, they would target areas that had not yet been excavated or even break into officially designated archaeological sites. Equipped with specialized metal detection machines, they would scan these locations and then proceed with their illegal activity—extracting ancient treasures.
Last week, Greek police from the Northern Greece Organized Crime Unit arrested 23 individuals in the cities of Ptolemaida, Serres, Kilkis, and Thessaloniki for engaging in illegal excavations at archaeological sites. Reports suggest that even the famous Kasta Tomb and the wider Amphipolis region were on their radar.
After the large smuggling ring was dismantled in Macedonia last week, Realnews spoke with officials from the Archaeological Service, who have a deep understanding of the actions of these illegal excavators.
Experienced archaeologists highlight that these criminals go as far as using dynamite to blow up ancient tombs, causing severe damage to these monuments. “They invade archaeological sites at night, digging when no one is around. They operate like criminal gangs, and their activities have no boundaries. The worst part is that even when they are caught, they are often released shortly afterward and continue their illegal work,” an official from the Northern Greece Archaeological Directorate stated.
Three Smuggling Gangs
According to the evidence, the 23 individuals arrested were involved in three different smuggling networks—two based in Serres and one in Thessaloniki. They have been charged with organized crime, illegal antiquities trafficking, illegal excavation, and the theft of monuments.
Among the items seized from their possession were an Illyrian-style helmet, a clay head, a small silver statue, a cross, 18 rings, three bracelets, 17 jewelry pieces, three figurines, an Ottoman-era tombstone, 27 vessels, thousands of coins, and religious icons.
Police also found explosive TNT materials, metal detection devices, a revolver, and a blank-firing pistol in the homes of the suspects, indicating they were preparing to continue their illegal activities.
“The destruction of archaeological material is inevitable from illegal excavations and it has been a long-standing issue across the country. However, the situation seems worse in Macedonia. The items are often mutilated, losing their historical value and entering illegal trading circuits. We are losing a major part of our cultural heritage,” stated an archaeologist and director of an archaeological museum, who has faced the destructive behavior of treasure hunters throughout her career.
The smuggling rings' operations extended beyond Thessaloniki and Serres to regions like Larissa, Karditsa, Arcadia, and Halkidiki, which led to the involvement of police officers from the relevant Police Departments.
The "Appraiser"
At the heart of these three smuggling rings was a 63-year-old man, described as the leader and coordinator. According to the evidence, he was acting as an appraiser and a liaison, helping to send the stolen artifacts to collectors and auction houses abroad.
The 63-year-old had been arrested in 2011 for possession of antiquities, and again in April 2023 when he tried to send ancient coins via courier hidden inside an oil container.
In January of this year, he was also implicated in attempting to sell 2,456 ancient coins, 14 rings, and Byzantine bracelets that were in the possession of a 34-year-old Russian man. The coins were confirmed to be from various periods, including the classical era (5th–4th centuries BCE), the Kingdom of Macedon (4th–3rd centuries BCE), Greek cities in Macedonia, the Hellenistic period, Roman times, the Byzantine period, and the middle Ottoman period.
The encounter between the 63-year-old and a 65-year-old employee of the Serres Archaeological Directorate led authorities to dismantle the entire smuggling ring. The 65-year-old had been arrested in December 2023 at the "Macedonia" airport, attempting to smuggle ancient coins sewn into his jacket lining. Two years earlier, he had been arrested for possessing a large number of coins.
The Legal Drama
“Most of the 14 suspects arrested in Thessaloniki were released with restrictions, and if needed, they will provide further testimony to the investigating judge. Their involvement was minimal or nonexistent. They all had contact with the leader but did not know each other personally,” said the lawyer representing the 65-year-old.
The lawyer for the 65-year-old’s defense stated, "My client denies any involvement in an organization or any association with these kinds of crimes."
Authorities claim that the 65-year-old employee of the Archaeological Directorate held a strategic position, with direct access to sensitive information about archaeological sites. He was involved in evaluating excavation sites and findings, and he would provide guidance to the smuggling group.
In one of his conversations about the metal detector's ability to locate coins, a conversation partner asked if it could detect gold, to which the 65-year-old responded, "If it had gold, wouldn't I have found it? Oh, the questions you ask..."
The defense lawyer for the 65-year-old argued that there was no evidence of illegal excavations or monument theft. “The conversations were misinterpreted by the police. In essence, there were no solid proofs,” he said. “My client was released with restrictions after his testimony. No excavation in ancient monuments took place, and no theft of monuments was proven.”
The Kasta Hill Connection
A revealing dialogue between two members of the Serres group illustrates their intentions: “I say we go on Sunday because the hunt is ending… It’s our last chance, and I'll take you to Kasta Hill, on the other side,” one says. The other responds, “Oh, I hope they don’t catch us.” Reports suggest that the group was planning an illegal excavation at Amphipolis but did not manage to carry it out.
The investigation into this operation continues as the authorities work to prevent further destruction of Greece's invaluable cultural heritage.
