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Bugging helping to fight crime

The National Intelligence Service (EYP) eavesdropped on almost 1,400 people this year but this played a significant role in tackling organized crime and domestic terrorism, Citizens’ Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis told Parliament on Friday.

Papoutsis said EYP had bugged 778 people in 2010 and 1,392 this year. He added that another 500 wiretapping operations were currently being carried out by secret service agents. Papoutsis defended the operations, saying EYP had helped in numerous cases.

“I believe that thanks to EYP’s involvement, along with the setting up of the financial police and the continuing work of the electronic crimes squad, we have managed to trace a number of organized crime and terrorist gangs.”

Responding to questions about EYP’s procedure for eavesdropping, the minister said that agents obtain permission from both the judiciary and the privacy watchdog before listening in on conversations.