A correctional officer was arrested for involvement in the trafficking of cell phones and drugs in prisons

Five people, including a correctional officer and two inmates, were arrested as part of the raid for trafficking in mobile phones and narcotics in a Reservation Store.

According to ELAS, a coordinated operation was carried out on the morning of Sunday, April 21, when those involved were arrested, while the case file that was formed includes one more person, whose details have been identified.

A case file was filed against them – as the case may be – for breach of duty, bribery of an employee, forgery and a distinguished case of drug trafficking, as well as for violation of the laws on sports and weapons and the laws on antenna licenses and the importation and disposal of mobile phones in shops reservation.

There was a previous complaint about a person importing drugs into a detention facility, following “orders” from inmates, for a monetary fee.

In the context of the investigation, in which special investigative techniques and evidence obtained from the evaluation and analysis of informational and pre-investigative data were used, the existence of a network for the importation and trafficking of narcotic substances, mobile telephone devices, as well as telephone connection packages, with the ultimate aim of selling them to prisoners, for money.

In particular, in terms of the method of action, it emerged that a 46-year-old inmate was exploiting the position where he was employed, within the Detention Shop, while at the same time maintaining a key role in decision-making, delegating the search or receipt of each order to the network he had developed.

In fact, he had a mobile phone with the knowledge of the arrested prison officer, through which he knew the services (days, persons, points) at the Booking Office and in particular at the gate which is the visitor control point.

Action in prisons

He also had immediate information about possible searches at the Store, in whose premises he moved freely, even at times when the other prisoners were in confinement.

The main supporters of the said network were the two individuals (a 43-year-old and a 24-year-old) arrested, as the first held the role of the main importer through visits to the Penitentiary Store and the second was in charge of finding and supplying the narcotics.

From their activity, which was uninterrupted, they obtained large profits since they traded their “merchandise” at prices many times higher than those outside the prison (indicatively, the selling price of the mobile phones ranged from 500 to 600 euros).

The payment was made through money transfer companies or through accounts linked to prepaid cards in the details of the 46-year-old or his relatives.

The arrests took place while the 43-year-old woman tried to enter the Detention Center in order to deliver – according to the visitation – to the 46-year-old drug pills, which she had carefully hidden in her bra.