“We had information in my office for three months which we cross-referenced and immediately began our effort in the area. It is a major blow against antiquities as it is a case of the highest importance as two of the three involved have been arrested again in the past for both antiquities and weapons. One of the arrested declares himself unemployed, the other is a farmer, while the third arrested, a partner of the two already mentioned, is a large landowner who owns over two thousand acres of land,” he tells “ET.” the same.
The strike took place at an unsuspected time, as the “punisher of the antiquities hatters” points out, after a related monitoring done by him and his colleagues. As he notes, he chose the right moment and, in cooperation with the competent police and prosecuting authorities, identified the traces of the antiquities. It is characteristic that important antiquities from the Paleolithic and Roman eras were found in their possession.
These are amphorae, collectible coins, and other smaller objects of great archaeological and economic value. A revolver, a single-barreled gun, as well as cartridges, metal detectors, a bar and cutting tools were also seized. All ancient objects that fall under the antiquities law are counted and are to be handed over to the Greek state.
As Giorgos Tsoukalis characteristically mentions, this is one of the most important cases he has carried out to date both because of the degree of difficulty that existed regarding the identification but also as a consequence of the fact that this time he was dealing with experienced and marked at the same time due to previous corresponding action criminals.
After their arrest, Giorgos Tsoukalis emphasized that “no wise man has sinned twice…” referring to the fact that two of the three arrested had again engaged the prosecuting authorities in the past, while he did not fail to thank the Sub-Directorate of Security of Ioannina, the commander Christos Mousafiri and the general general of Epirus, Vassilis Muselimis.
The specialist private investigator has played a leading role in hundreds of antiquities antiquities cases, as well as in major cases that have shocked the Panhellenic world. He himself has clarified dozens of cases of combating and uncovering antiquities.
The number of finds which have been officially returned to the Greek state after his personal initiative is impressive. “We have handed over 16,920 antiquities to the state in 34 years and we are continuing,” he says characteristically.
The work of Giorgos Tsoukalis has been reported by major foreign channels, such as the BBC, major media and newspapers such as the WSJ.
International awards
Giorgos Tsoukalis has been honored by the international Giuseppe Sciacca awards, as well as in Jerusalem for his fight against the pilgrims. He was recently awarded in Mexico for his global action against antiquities, while there are dozens of awards from Greek bodies.
He is the author of the book “History Smugglers” and general manager of Art & Art magazine. He wrote articles for a number of years in the newspaper “Apogeumatini”, while in recent years his articles have been published in the newspaper “Paraskinio”.
Among other things, he is the group’s cultural heritage consultant for Unesco Piraeus and the Islands, an honorary citizen of the Municipality of Corinth and also the public relations manager of the AHEPA Psychiko department and the Cultural Association “Friends of the War Museum”. He is also an honorary member of I PA (International Police Association), a goodwill ambassador of Silver Alert, as well as an honorary member of OFKATH.
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