Some 23 individuals were arrested by the northern Greece organized crime division of Greek police over antiquities looting.

Nine were arrested in Serres and 14 in Thessaloniki. Of the Serres group, 8 testified on Monday and were released, with the last one to testify on Tuesday. Of the Thessaloniki group, 4 were released after testifying, while the rest will testify over Tuesday and Wednesday. Some were released under restrictions.

The 23 are suspected of forming a criminal gang, stealing monuments, illegally exporting cultural goods, illegal excavating and archaeological research, and receipt of stolen monuments and distribution. They were organized in 3 rings (2 based in Serres, where an antiquities employee was allegedly advising them), while a leading member aged 63 who is testifying on Wednesday has a record for similar crimes.

According to the case file, they excavated illegally in archaeological sites including Kasta Tomb in the greater area of Amphipolis.

Police confiscated a clay head, a small statuette, a cross, 18 rings, 3 bracelets, 17 jewelry pieces, 3 statuettes, a funerary stele of the Ottoman period, 27 vessels, thousands of coins, religious icons, and 879 grams of TNT, along with dozens of metal-detectors, a handgun, and a pistol. The antiquities and icons were turned over to the relevant antiquities ephorates for evaluation and storage.