– Three circuits fell into the “nets” of the Police
– They were making money by gambling through illegal websites
– They were thinking of “joining” their forces with a new, common website but… they were caught
– Their turnover was millions of euros according to the Hellenic Police
– They also had a licensed “showcase” website
The Polygyros Security Department in Halkidiki dismantled three multi-member criminal organizations involved in numerous cases of operating illegal agencies and websites, with the object of illegal betting, gambling and "money laundering".
The dismantling of these criminal organizations, which essentially constituted a structured network of illegal gambling in various regions of the country, is the result of a months-long police investigation.
In fact, according to information from NewsΙT, in one of the three circuits, the leader is allegedly the son of a well-known businessman from Giannitsa, who in the past had starred in a high-profile case with “fruit shops” in Patras.
They had spread their tentacles all over the country!
These criminal organizations operated systematically in areas of Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Attica, Imathia, Kilkis, Rodopi, Larissa, Aetolia, Zakynthos, Phthiotis and Pella,
where since yesterday, as part of a large-scale police operation, arrests of individuals involved in the case have been made, as well as searches of homes and shops.
In particular, so far 52 searches have been carried out in homes and 15 in shops, while fifty-three 53 people have been arrested. Criminal proceedings are being filed against them, of a felony nature, for the offenses of establishing and participating in a criminal organization, conducting and participating in illegal games of chance and legalizing proceeds from criminal activity (money laundering).
The relevant case file includes, as defendants, another 14 Greeks, who have been identified and are wanted as members of criminal organizations.
In the first criminal organization:
Seventeen members were identified, operating in the areas of Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Veria and Komotini. Twelve people were arrested, while the 51-year-old leader of the organization is being sought.
In the second criminal organization:
37 members were identified, operating in the areas of Pella, Imathia, Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Larissa and Alexandroupoli. 32 people were arrested, including the 38-year-old leader of the organization.
In the third criminal organization:
14 members were identified, with a scope of action in the areas of Attica, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos, Phthiotis and Aitoloakarnania. 8 people were arrested, including a 41-year-old leader of the organization.
From the progress of the investigation, it was found that these were three criminal organizations, which were active, either independently or in collaboration, operating illegal gambling and betting websites.
For this purpose, they had illegally established “agencies”, substituting the OPAP.
According to the Police, the criminal organizations had been active at least in the last months of this year. The individual connections and collaborations of the three “leaders” were also identified, as well as the intention of two of them to expand their illegal activities through the creation of a joint, new poker betting website.
The licensed website that functioned as a showcase
Following a digital online investigation, it emerged that unlicensed websites were operating, which did not have the right to operate in our country.
In addition, one of the “leaders” had a temporarily licensed website, in which no store or intermediary is allowed to intervene, which deals with the player and receives percentages.
In fact, the licensed website was based in Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles and, with a showcase of its legal activities, with the expected tax return, the owner company allegedly operated parallel websites, illegal betting.
In most cases, players paid with cash in stores, while on websites the charge was made electronically.
In the case of the licensed website with a temporary license, where winnings are taxable, not all of its transactions were recorded, resulting in players obtaining larger winnings and the State being deprived of the corresponding taxes.
What did the police find and seize?
As part of the operation, a large amount of digital evidence was found and seized, which will be sent for laboratory examination to the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Hellenic Police Headquarters.
Specifically, the following were found and seized:
54 portable and stationary computers
44 mobile phones
numerous handwritten notes with code names and amounts of money from illegal transactions
(3,070) euros
17 deposit books
8 wristwatches
3 private cars and
a speedboat.
The police investigation is continuing by the Polygyros Security Department, in collaboration with the co-competent State Financial Services, to fully ascertain the scope of the criminal network's illegal activity, as well as the further process of legalizing their illegal proceeds.
For this purpose, the Authority for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and the Control of Asset Declarations, as well as the Financial Police & Cybercrime Prosecution Service, were informed to investigate the case, with regard to the tax aspect and related offenses.
Furthermore, the police investigation continues at the national level and within the framework of European - international police cooperation, in order to ascertain the totality and time span of the activities of each criminal organization and to determine the turnover and total amount of the fraud being committed.
It is estimated that the total turnover of the criminal “network” is several… millions of euros (!), with consequent significant losses, which correspond to evaded taxes for the Greek State.
REPORT: PANAGIOTIS SPYROPOULOS
Source: newsit.gr
