NEWS

Special guards arrested for trading firearms

Special guards arrested for trading firearms

Four special guards have been suspended from duty pending an investigation into charges of illegal trading in weapons and forming a criminal organization.

The suspects include two 28-year-old members of the DIAS motorcycle-riding squad in Attica, a 27-year-old guard serving in Hania, on the island of Crete, and a 30-year-old officer based in Rethymno. Police have also detained the fourth suspect’s brother, who is 31.

Authorities, acting on a tip-off, arrested the suspects as they tried to smuggle at least six weapons and a large amount of ammunition from Crete to Piraeus port. According to the tip-off, which has not been confirmed, the weapons were to be handed over to a foreign national.

The weapons found in their possession will be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if they have been previously been used to commit a crime in the country. Authorities believe the gang may have a hidden arms cache with more weapons, which is being sought.

The suspects were expected to appear before a prosecutor late Tuesday.

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