Police arrest former poultry baron for undeclared art, antiquities

The 81-year-old businessman was arrested on February 10 in the Athens suburb of Maroussi, by Attica Security Police. He was later taken before an Athens public prosecutor and charged with violating laws on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage, as well as weapons legislation. 
In a raid on the businessman's home, police found and confiscated 23 Byzantine-era icons, an Epitaphios, five vestments, 108 ancient coins, a ceramic head, 21,000 euros, a WWI machine gun, two inactive WWII mortars, seven handguns and five clips, three revolvers, a shotgun with a modified clip, a rifle with sights and silencer, as well as a variety of shells, a deactivated defence hand grenade, a night stick, knives, stilletos and swords.
According to police, a painting attributed to El Greco was merely a copy.
Police said the entire collection had been the target of a Roma gypsy gang and that they were put on the businessman's trail by information uncovered by the Marousi security police department.