A multi-member gang that smuggled alcoholic beverages from Bulgaria and sold them for sale in wine cellars, mini markets, restaurants and entertainment centers with a profit of millions of euros was liquidated by the Economic Police Directorate in cooperation with the Northern Economic Police. Sub-government of Greece, coordinated by the Operations Center of the Independent Public Revenue Authority.

According to ELAS, 21 members of the criminal organization, including the leader, were detained. It is noted that the dossier includes at least 9 more people whose identity has been established.

As it turned out as a result of a police investigation, Spiral had been illegally importing alcoholic beverages of dubious origin from Bulgaria since at least March 2022. The defendants used trucks in which they legally transported other products to Greece. Alcoholic drinks were hidden in specially designed trays to avoid being seen. For their temporary storage, they used a warehouse in the Evia region, and the illegal cargo was then transported to warehouses in Attica, where fake Greek labels were pasted on the bottles.

More than 19,000 bottles of spirits have been found.

Subsequently, the defendants sent the amounts to wine cellars, mini-markets, catering establishments, as well as entertainment centers in the areas of Attica, Thessaloniki and other parts of Greece.

Searches conducted in warehouses, businesses and vehicles in Attica and Thessaloniki revealed and seized, according to ELAS: 19,588 bottles of alcoholic beverages, 50,000 labels of branded alcoholic beverages, 2 trucks and 144 euros. , 30 mobile phones and many tools and notes.

With regard to duty and tax evasion on confiscated alcoholic beverages, they exceed the amount of 200,000 euros, while, as a result of a police investigation, it turned out that the criminal organization smuggled more than 500,000 bottles, which corresponds to an amount of several million euros. euro illegal profits.

The confiscated money will be deposited in the deposit and loan fund, the bottles will be handed over to the customs authorities, and samples of alcoholic beverages will be sent for examination to the State Architectural Academy.

The detainees were taken to the competent prosecutor’s office.

Source: RES-IPE