Two men, aged 48 and 50, were arrested on Friday afternoon, September 12, in Evpalio, Greece, on suspicion of violating laws protecting antiquities and cultural heritage while excavating a hidden underground tunnel, according to SKAI.
Police said they found a vertical shaft about 12 meters deep with horizontal levels, supported by metal props. The tunnel was wired for lighting, had a ventilation system, and used pumps to remove rainwater and groundwater to prevent erosion and flooding. An electric hoist was installed to remove excavated material. The excavation was on a plot not owned by the suspects, near the Church of St. Nicholas and close to an archaeological site.
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Officers seized at the site and from a vehicle owned by one of the men a portable electronic device; 18,380 euros, 5,774 US dollars, and 6,500 Romanian lei; a metal detector and a metal rod used as a detector; and the vehicle itself as a transport means. They also seized transport carts, metal props, electric drills and drill bits, ventilation components, a section of plastic pipe from the water-pumping system, metal cutters, extension cords, power strips, gloves, a headlamp, a handheld lamp, and mechanical, electric, and manual digging tools. Lawful searches at the suspects’ homes yielded portable electronic devices and metal detectors.
Police had monitored the two individuals since November and continued the investigation to determine the full extent of their activity and whether they found any items. Police inquiries recorded conflicting explanations: one man said they were drilling for water, while the other said he had heard from relatives about buried gold coins; they later said they were searching for pounds. Authorities were examining whether they were seeking pounds or ancient artifacts.