The operation codenamed "CICONIA ALBA" was implemented with the coordination of Europol on 15 and 16 June 2016. The Hellenic Police participated in the large-scale joint police operation to combat online fraud in the air transport sector.
The aforementioned action was carried out in our country under the coordination of the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, in collaboration with local police authorities from nine airports.
A total of three foreigners were arrested for internet fraud and a regular procedure case was filed against another foreigner.
A case was also investigated involving the actions of a foreigner who, using stolen credit card details, issued airline tickets with the aim of illegally transporting passengers between European and African countries
This global action was also part of Europol 's support for the safe conduct of the " UEFA 2016" European Championship
An international-scale joint police operation was successfully completed, within the framework of the global action to combat online fraud in the air transport sector, in which Greek Police Services and experts participated.
The coordinated police operation, in which police authorities from (43) countries participated, was implemented at the initiative of Europol, on the two-day period of 15-16 June 2016, while (5) coordination centers were established for its organization at the global level.
The arrests, within the framework of the operation, amount to a total of one hundred and forty (140) people, of which three (3) people - foreigners - were arrested in our country, specifically at Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" and at the State Airports of Heraklion "N. Kazantzakis" and Rhodes "Diagoras".
As it turned out, the airline tickets of the three arrested individuals had been issued using credit cards, with stolen information and without the knowledge of the legitimate beneficiaries. For the same reason, a regular procedure file was also filed against another foreign individual.
Additionally, within the framework of the operation, a case was investigated involving the actions of a foreigner, who, using stolen credit card details, proceeded to issue airline tickets, with the aim of illegally transporting passengers between European and African countries. A case file was drawn up for this case, which will be submitted to the competent authorities.
At the national level, the action was carried out under the coordination and supervision of the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate, in collaboration with the police authorities from the airports "El. Venizelos" in Athens, "Macedonia" in Thessaloniki, "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" in Chania, "N. Kazantzakis" in Heraklion, "Ioannis Kapodistrias" in Corfu, "Captain Vas. Constantakopoulos" in Kalamata, "Diagoras" in Rhodes and the State Airports of Santorini and Mykonos.
It is noted that the above global action was also part of Europol's support for the safe conduct of the "UEFA 2016" .
More information about the operation "CICONIA ALBA" has been posted on the EUROPOL website:
