In Pieria, a strategy to extort formation donut vendors was uncovered: small sellers were forced to wage for the “right” to work, they were threatened, and those who refused were beaten.
In Greece, the so-called “lukoumadon mafia” has made itself known again – a transgression strategy associated with extorting wealth from small merchants selling sweets connected the beaches.
This time, according to Greek media, the strategy operated successful Pieria. Street vendors became victims λουκουμάδων – traditional greek donutswhich are usually carried on the beaches successful boxes under the scorching sun.
At archetypal glance, the representation is astir idyllic: sea, sand, vacationers and a seller with a container of sweets. But, arsenic it turns out, down this summertime postcard there whitethorn beryllium not astatine each tourist romance, but alternatively tough transgression mechanics.
How the strategy worked
Based connected the materials of the lawsuit helium is dealing with Katerini Crime Prosecution and Detection Departmentan organized radical demanded wealth from formation vendors for the accidental to proceed working.
In fact, it was a classical “roof”: traders were offered to wage for “permission” work connected definite areas of the beach.
Those who refused, according to investigators, faced threats, unit and carnal violence. In a fig of cases, it came to beatings and unfastened intimidation.
Two radical were astatine the halfway of the investigation: Greek national from Kalamaria and a national of Georgia residing successful Cordelio. A lawsuit has been opened against them regarding the instauration of a transgression radical and systematic extortion.
“Permission” to trade connected the beach
According to investigators, 1 of the accused organized a web that operated successful coastal areas and systematically monitored small sellers.
The strategy was elemental and cynical: if you want to merchantability donuts connected the beach, you pay. If you don’t pay, there will beryllium problems.
Thus, mean formation trade turned into a zone of transgression control. Sellers, already working successful hard conditions, were caught betwixt heat, contention and radical who demanded a chopped simply for the accidental to gain a regular income.
Double “roof” and closed circle
A peculiarly alarming constituent of the lawsuit was that, according to the investigation, not one, but respective groups could beryllium operating successful the area.
Some sellers, trying to support themselves from unit from 1 side, turned to the different group, hoping to person protection. But successful practice, this lone drew them into a caller ellipse of dependence.
As a result, a situation of treble extortion arose: the aforesaid radical could wage respective “protectors” astatine erstwhile conscionable to support working.
This is however a transgression system was formed, where a small trader became not an entrepreneur, but a hostage to someone else’s rules.
How overmuch did the strategy earn?
According to the preliminary investigation, the recorded episodes brought participants of the strategy astatine slightest 112,184 euros amerciable benefit.
However, the authorities judge that the existent magnitude could beryllium importantly higher, since the groups’ activities could person been broader and longer lasting.
The probe present concerns not lone extortion, but besides imaginable money laundering. Anti-Money Laundering Office checks however the funds received were moved and used.
According to investigators, there are strong indications that illicit proceeds whitethorn person been routed done slope accounts and different fiscal instruments to look arsenic morganatic funds.
Seizure of accounts and property
As portion of the investigation, it was ordered freezing of spot and accounts persons progressive successful an magnitude of astatine slightest 112,184 euros.
We are talking astir slope accounts, concern products and harmless deposit boxes. There are constricted exceptions for basal surviving expenses and ineligible defence fees.
This shows that the substance went acold beyond the usual formation conflict. The probe considers the strategy arsenic an organized mechanics that not lone collected wealth from small traders, but besides tried to present these funds into ineligible circulation.
From Halkidiki to Pieria
According to the investigation, a akin strategy was antecedently associated with Halkidikiand present traces of it person been recovered successful Pieria.
This suggests that the signifier of transgression power tin beryllium transferred from 1 tourist portion to different – where there are beaches, seasonal income, weak traders and a ample travel of holidaymakers.
The essence remains the same: power implicit small sellers, systematic unit and the transformation of formation trade into a source of stable amerciable income.
Greek (GR) · 
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