Athens officers blackmailed migrants over knockoff wares
Two policeman have been suspended on suspicion of being part of an extortion gang in Athens, authorities said on Saturday.
The two officers, aged 27 and 30, were removed from duty after being among five people arrested.
Five more are being sought.
The gang is alleged to have stolen knockoff items sold by migrants or blackmailed its victims into handing over money.
The two policemen would visit warehouses where the contraband goods were stored following tip-offs from other members of the gang.
But instead of seizing the items and arresting the migrants, they would either demand cash from their victims so the police would not be informed or they would take the goods and pass them over to the other suspects.
