Authorities seizes record 7.4 million illicit cigarettes
Greek authorities have seized 7.4 million cigarettes in what officials describe as the largest-ever haul of illicit cigarettes discovered inside the country.
The operation by inspectors from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue targeted car dealerships, a coffin-manufacturing business and other storage facilities following an analysis of intelligence and data from the authority’s information systems.
The seized cigarettes carried well-known brand names and were stored in wooden crates prepared for distribution.
Crates designed to evade detection
Investigators found that the wooden crates had been reinforced with metal rods, apparently to prevent the tobacco products from being detected by X-ray screening equipment.
Authorities also seized a heavy-duty tractor-trailer with altered identification details and forged license plates, along with a private vehicle, a motorcycle and a forklift.
The findings point to an organized operation that allegedly used rented premises and vehicles with falsified documents or altered identification features to store, transport and distribute large quantities of illicit tobacco products.
€1.4 million in unpaid duties and taxes
The seized cigarettes represent more than €1.4 million in unpaid duties and taxes, according to authorities.
Samples have been sent to the state chemical laboratory and to tobacco companies representing the brands involved to determine whether the cigarettes are genuine products or counterfeit.
Four people were arrested and referred to a prosecutor. A criminal case has been opened, while the investigation continues into additional suspects and possible links to wider smuggling networks.
Source:AMNA
