Net closes on jail escapees
Police are preparing to launch a massive operation to catch escaped convict Vassilis Palaiocostas as well as his older brother Nikos, who has evaded authorities since 1990, sources told Kathimerini yesterday. Vassilis Palaicostas escaped from the maximum-security Korydallos prison some 10 days ago after a helicopter landed in the yard and flew him out of the jail. Sources said that efforts to arrest the brothers have proved fruitless and the police now intend to focus their efforts on areas in central Greece, Thessaly and Epirus, where Nikos Palaiocostas, who is Greece’s most wanted robber, is thought to have a number of hideouts. Officially, police said the operation will focus on the arrest of wanted criminals and the detection of cannabis plantations. The deputy police chief, Major General Stelios Syros, has already made his way to Thessaly to coordinate the operation, in which officers from the police’s special forces squad will take part, sources added.
