A 20-year-old taxi driver was arrested Friday afternoon by officers of the Syntagma Police Department in central Athens after charging a customer €310 for a ride from Athens International Airport to Syntagma Square—an amount nearly eight times the legal fare.
According to the Hellenic Police (ELAS), the driver picked up a female passenger from the airport and, upon arriving at her destination in the city center, demanded the excessive fare. The standard regulated fare for that route is around €38–€40, including luggage and toll fees.
Authorities also found that:
- The taximeter was non-functional
- The driver did not hold the special license required to operate a taxi in Greece
The case was immediately handed over to the Athens Traffic Police Division, and the arrested driver was referred to the prosecutor.
This incident adds to rising concerns over taxi fraud targeting tourists and locals, especially at high-traffic locations like airports and popular landmarks.
