Greek tax authority seizes massive cache of illicit cigarettes in coordinated raid
ΑΑΔΕ inspectors, acting on information from ΔΕΟΣ, dismantled an organized cigarette smuggling operation, confiscating a large stock of branded cigarettes and related equipment.
Using data supplied by the tax authority’s systems, ΑΑΔΕ inspectors collaborated with ΔΕΟΣ to raid multiple premises, including car-sales outlets and a metal-working shop. They uncovered the largest quantity of illegal cigarettes ever found inside Greece, packaged in wooden boxes fitted with metal reinforcements to avoid scanning. The seizure also included a heavy-duty truck with falsified registration, a private car, a motorcycle and a hydraulic lifting device.
Investigators described the network as a well-organized distribution chain that employed rented spaces and counterfeit vehicle identifiers to move the contraband. Samples have been sent to the Χημική Υπηρεσία and the brands’ representatives for authenticity testing. Four individuals were detained and a formal investigation has been launched to identify additional participants.
Why it matters
The bust highlights extensive smuggling networks that deprive the state of tax revenue and undermine public health policies.
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