Greek customs seize €2 million cash, 4 million illegal cigarettes and exotic parrots
The Independent Authority of Public Revenue (AADE) carried out targeted customs inspections at airports, seaports and border stations across Greece during the first half of 2026. Using modern X‑ray systems and specially trained detection dogs – Hant, Camora and Elvis – officials seized more than €2.06 million in undeclared cash, $91,723, a Romanian bank check, and large amounts of foreign currency. The raids also yielded 60 gold coins and six gold plates weighing a total of 190 g.
Customs officers confiscated 4,126,057 cigarettes, 70 kg of tobacco, 3,346 cigars and 29,340 heated‑tobacco sticks, together with 347 L of illegal alcoholic beverages. In addition, 2,768 illicit items such as medicines, dietary supplements, mobile phones, clothing and accessories were seized, along with 31,013 counterfeit goods. Drug seizures included 129 kg of khat, 25 kg of cannabis and 574 g of THC, while 528 distinct illegal weapons were recovered. Among the more unusual finds were two exotic parrots and a fragment of a fossilised tree.
Entities: Camora · Detection dogs Hant and Camora · Detection dogs Hant, Camora, Elvis · Eleftherios Venizelos Airport · Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport · Elvis · Greece · Greek Ministry of Finance · Greek border posts · Greek customs · Greek customs authorities · Hant
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 15 SOURCES] The seizure included 4,126,057 cigarettes, 70 kg tobacco, 3,346 cigars and 29,340 heated‑tobacco sticks. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] AADE customs inspectors carried out targeted checks at Greek airports, seaports and border stations during the first half of 2026. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] Exotic parrots were among the items confiscated. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] The seizure also contained 129 kg khat, 25 kg cannabis and 574 g THC. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] AADE seized 60 gold coins and six gold plates weighing a total of 190 grams. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] Seized weapons and armaments totaled 528 distinct items of illegal weaponry. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] The inspections used modern X‑ray systems and detection dogs named Hant, Camora and Elvis. (AADE)
- [● 15 SOURCES] Seized cash totaled €2,065,416.91 and $91,723, plus foreign currencies and a Romanian check of 191,357 LEI. (AADE)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Two exotic parrots were seized during the inspections. (new)