07/04/2023 –
500,000 liters of organic chemical solvents (“designer fuels”) seized – Over
550,000 euros tax evasion.
Athens, 07 April 2023
PRESS RELEASE
Customs auditors of the
Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR) identified and seized 500,000
liters of gasoline adulteration solvents (“designer fuels”). Specifically, the
Mobile Enforcement Teams (K.O.E.) of Patra and Igoumenitsa of the Attica
Customs Auditing Service (EL.Y.T.) and the Financial Police, under the
instructions of the Coordinating Operational Centre (SEK), used EUROPOL intelligence
on a suspicious tanker vehicle carrying gasoline adulteration solvents.
The criminal groupattempted to
smuggle into Greece 15 tank containersvia the sea line Trieste – Patra and storethe
illicit solvents in chemical storage tanks, located in Patra and Schimatari (Attica),
in order to distribute them to illegal facilities and gas stations throughout
the country.
The IAPRauditors, in cooperation
with the Hellenic Police, waited for the illegal cargo at the appropriate entry
and destination points and finally proceeded to inspect and detain the tank
containers at the port of Patra. Solvent samples were shipped to the General
Chemical Laboratory for analysis. At the same time, under the instructions of
SEK, the Financial Police went to the aforementioned storage areas in Patra and
Schimatari, where they unveiledthe illegal chemical storage tanks.
The evaded taxes corresponding to
the State revenue loss, amount to over 550,000 euros.
