Wiretaps implicate police officers in crime rings

At least seven police officers, including a high-ranking retired one, from precincts around the country have been implicated in crime rings run by members of the Roma community.

Two of the rings, behind robberies that netted at least 1 million euros, were smashed in a wide-scale operation last week.

According to transcripts secured by tapping the calls of members of the so-called “Roma Mafia,” the officers were asked to intervene in order to sort out the legal run-ins of the gang leaders and make sure they evaded criminal investigation.

The investigation, conducted by the police’s internal affairs division in Maroussi, northern Athens, also revealed that one of the officers was paid 10,000 euros to frame a man for robbery because he had differences with a leading gang member.

Gang members went by various nicknames, including “Satan.”