Two foreign nationals arrested with arms cache in their car

Two Turkish nationals, a 46-year-old man and his 17-year-old son, were arrested on Monday by police at the Kotyli border station after a small arms cache was found in their car.

A war rifle, dozens of rounds of ammunition, knives and a number of burglary tools were found in the car driven by the Turkish man, who was several convictions against him.

The two men threw a Kalashnikov rifle and several rounds of ammunition out of the private passenger car they were in when they spotted a routine police check ahead of them, at dawn Monday.

The two men were arrested, and a search of the car revealed a large number of burglary tools as well, all of which were confiscated.
A further investigation revealed that the older man was being investigated on illegally residing in Greece, while a court order for his deportation has been pending since 2005.

A preliminary investigation further revealed that the man is wanted for a series of burglaries in Attica, Xanthi, Kavala, Komotini, Alexandroupolis and Edessa.

The man has also been convicted to and served a lengthy jail sentence on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated theft, drug possession, resisting authorities, gun possession, escape from prison, setting up a criminal gang and violation of residency restrictions.
The man had been incarcerated in the Kassandra farm prison in Halkidiki, from where he was released in 1989, in the Korydallos prison since 1990, and in the prison on Corfu island, where he failed to return after a leave and was re-arrested in 2001. He has also served time in the Malandrino prison, from where he was released in 2005.
The father and son are due to appear before a Xanthi public prosecutor.