17 arrests in women trafficking case

Seventeen people have been arrested and another 160 taken in for questioning by police in several parts of the country, in an investigation into one of the biggest trafficking rings of women, mainly from Russia, who were forced to work in nightclubs and as prostitutes, police said on Thursday.

A major coordinated operation was launched by police in Athens, Lamia, Volos, Larissa, Thessaloniki, Florina and other cities in Greece while, in collaboration with the Russian authorities, an investigation was also being conducted in Russia.

A Greek Police (ELAS) officer told ANA-MPA that the ring controlled approximately 80 percent of the women from eastern European countries exploited by white slave traders in Greece.

The mastermind of the ring is believed to be a 40-year-old owner of a chain of bakeries and nightclubs, who had been arrested in a similar major case in November 2008 but was released a year ago after the expiry of the remand period.

Announcements will be forthcoming from the Attica Security Police upon completion of the preliminary investigation.