In a striking case, two men, aged 48 and 50, were taken into custody on September 12th in Evpalio, Greece. The authorities suspect them of violating antiquities laws while digging a hidden underground passageway.
According to reports from SKAI, police uncovered a vertical shaft about 12 meters deep that had several horizontal levels, all supported by metal beams. The clandestine tunnel boasted a wiring system for lights, a ventilation setup, and pumps in place to manage rainwater and groundwater, ensuring the site didn’t succumb to erosion or flooding. Additionally, there was an electric hoist installed to aid in moving the excavated materials.
What raised concerns was that the excavation was happening on land not owned by the two suspects, situated near the Church of St. Nicholas and adjacent to an archaeological area.
During the operation, police recovered a significant cache of items and money from a vehicle belonging to one of the men. The seizure included portable electronic devices, a hefty sum of money totaling €18,380, $5,774, and 6,500 Romanian lei, in addition to tools such as metal detectors, a metal rod for detecting, and various digging instruments.
Itemized findings also included transport carts, electric drills, ventilation parts, a piece of a plastic water pump pipeline, metal cutting tools, extension cords, a headlamp, and a handheld light. Lawful searches at their residences produced more portable electronics and metal detectors.
It’s worth mentioning that authorities were keeping tabs on these individuals since November, and the investigation is ongoing. Preliminary interrogations revealed contrasting stories: while one insisted they were drilling for water, the other claimed familial ties to buried gold coins. As the tale unfolds, further inquiries are evaluating whether these gentlemen were in search of gold pounds or potentially valuable ancient artifacts.
This report was enriched by insights from a news-analysis system.
