Police to target illegal trade in central Athens
Police are planning to crack down on the illegal trade in central Athens which has flourished over the past year following the influx into the capital of thousands of would-be immigrants. The capital’s historic district will have a permanent police presence from now on and officers have been instructed to carry out surprise raids on stores suspected of trading in counterfeit products, said Deputy Interior Minister Panayiotis Hinofitis following a meeting with top-ranking officials from the Public Order and Development ministries, City Hall and the police force. The officials also decided to set up a committee to monitor the tactics used by illegal traders and to make recommendations as to how they may best be curbed. The initiative is to be extended to Piraeus, which has also seen an increase in the trade in counterfeit goods.
