(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JUNE 23 - Greek Public Order Ministry is
in talks with Israeli firms regarding the acquisition of
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to
bolster the efforts of the Greek Police (ELAS) to monitor the
country's borders and curb illegal immigration as well as
cracking down on organized crime and domestic terrorism,
Kathimerini online reported. It remains unclear how many drones
the ministry is seeking to acquire and what type. In any case
the aircraft, once acquired, will be able to provide Greek
security services with useful data including cell phone signals
that could help avert crimes and terrorist attacks. A drone was
used to trace several Albanian convicts who escaped from Trikala
Prison in central Greece in March last year. It is likely that
European Union subsidies will be used for the purchase of the
UAVs though it remains unclear what sum has been earmarked for
the investment. Meanwhile, ELAS is planning to scrap the
wireless, encrypted TETRA security system, which was acquired
for the Athens 2004 Olympics, as it has been deemed too costly,
Kathimerini understands. The system, which was purchased for 90
million euros, costs some 4.5 million euros to maintain per
year. In a bid to further tighten security, authorities are
considering the reactivation of surveillance cameras in central
Athens. (ANSAmed).
