Athens, March 19 – A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in Athens for allegedly operating an illegal makeshift factory for fireworks and flares from his bedroom, police announced on Thursday. The operation led to the seizure of thousands of illegal fireworks and a significant quantity of gunpowder and other chemicals.
Police Raid Uncovers Illegal Fireworks Production
According to a police statement, the teenager’s 52-year-old father was also taken into custody, facing charges of neglect of a minor and complicity in breaches of legislation concerning fireworks. The arrests occurred on Wednesday in Aghios Dimitrios, a southern district of Athens.
Officers discovered “a fully equipped facility for producing illegal fireworks” during their raid. The extensive search yielded a total of 5,842 fireworks, 5.5 kilograms of gunpowder, and various other chemicals essential for the manufacturing of fireworks and flares.
Systematic Trading of Illegal Fireworks
The police statement further indicated that the raid was initiated after the teenager was stopped on the street carrying a bag containing 728 fireworks, believed to be for sale. Authorities suspect the teenager had been systematically involved in the illegal trade of fireworks within the Aghios Dimitrios area.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding illegal fireworks activities and the potential dangers they pose to public safety. The investigation into the full extent of the operation is ongoing.
