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Greece authorities dismantle hookah tobacco smuggling ring
Inspectors from the Directorate of Audit Bodies and Strategy (DEOS) of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) have dismantled a smuggling ring involving hookah tobacco. The operation began after the discovery of five suspicious parcels at a courier company, containing 504 packages of hookah tobacco weighing 63 kilograms, intended for export.
Following the investigation, authorities identified the sender as a cafe owner. Searches conducted at the suspect's residence and a nearby warehouse led to the seizure of 4,012 additional packages of tobacco, totaling 750 kilograms. Further inspections at the cafe yielded 78 containers of tobacco weighing 13 kilograms.
In total, 826 kilograms of hookah tobacco and 8,750 euros in cash were seized. Investigators found that the suspect had previously made seven shipments, falsely declaring the contents as ‘frankincense’ to the courier service. The suspect admitted to the illegal shipments. The estimated customs duties and taxes for the seized products amount to approximately 220,000 euros. The individual was taken to the Prosecutor under the process of flagrante delicto.
Entities
Directorate of Audit Bodies and Strategy · Greece · Independent Authority for Public Revenue
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] A hookah tobacco smuggling ring was dismantled in Greece. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The estimated unpaid duties and taxes total 220,000 euros. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Total cash seized amounted to 8,750 euros. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Inspectors seized 826 kilograms of hookah tobacco products. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The suspect falsely declared the contents of shipments as frankincense. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The suspect operates an individual cafe business. cretaone.gr · www.ot.gr · www.fortunegreece.com · www.sofokleousin.gr