A Greek man was arrested for digging tunnels from his home to protected archaeology sites in Megara, west of Athens, in a suspected case of antiquities trafficking, officials said on Saturday.

The 44-year-old man allegedly dug a well nearly four metres deep, as well as a tunnel seven metres long leading to three smaller tunnels in an archaeological zone, Athens police said in a statement.

The suspect was arrested on Friday and was to stand before an Athens court on Saturday for infringing laws protecting antiquities and national heritage.

The man is said to have destroyed some antiquities during his digging and artefacts — including ceramic fragments and stones from an ancient wall — were found in the tunnels and near the wells.

Police also discovered a tile fragment and a chunk from a grotto stalagmite in the man's home, as well as twenty large bags of earth in his secondary residence.

The objects were handed over to museums in Megara, where archaeologists regularly dig for artefacts from the ancient city.

AFP