Two separate cases of tobacco smuggling were uncovered by AADE inspectors at Athens International Airport ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’, with the total number of cigarettes seized exceeding 477,000.
362,800 cigarettes in 26 postal parcels
On 10 September, inspectors from the Smuggling Prevention Department of Athens Airport Customs carried out an inspection at the parcel warehouse.
With the assistance of ‘BANE’, a specially trained tobacco-detection dog, 26 consignments of parcels bound for Germany and Belgium were identified. Inside them, 362,800 contraband cigarettes were found, which were subsequently seized. The authorities’ investigation is ongoing to identify the senders.
Seven suitcases full of cigarettes from Cairo
A few days earlier, customs inspectors at ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ Airport foiled yet another attempt to smuggle a large quantity of contraband tobacco products.
Acting on relevant information, they inspected the luggage of a female passenger of Egyptian nationality who had arrived from Cairo. During the search, it was discovered that she was carrying 114,200 contraband cigarettes, divided amongst seven pieces of luggage.
The goods were seized, whilst the female passenger was arrested and taken before the competent public prosecutor.
Loss of almost 100,000 euros to the State
The corresponding duties and taxes payable by the two companies amount to a total of 97,619.70 euros.
The two cases come just a few days after the dismantling of the ring that was hiding 84 kilograms of cocaine inside fake roses, at a florist’s in Artemida and a processing facility in Marathon — yet another operation in which the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) played a leading role.
