An illegal mini-factory for the production of alcoholic beverages, which also worked as a warehouse for storing illegal tobacco products, was busted by the police.
The workshop for the production of moonshine (supposedly tsipouro) was located in a specially designated premises of a residential building, which was visited by employees of the Economic Police Department of Northern Greece on Monday morning. Two people were arrested in the case, a resident of the house and a person supervising the work of the production.
The men are accused of violating the national customs code, legislation on ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages, as well as laws on the storage and possession of firearms.
An investigation carried out with the assistance of the Chemical Service of Central Macedonia and the Audit Service of the Thessaloniki Customs revealed the illegal operation of a 70-liter metal tank for the production of distillation products, which contained 49 liters of alcoholic liquid (moonshine). A cauldron and a large amount of alcohol were also found.
At the same time, during the investigative actions the following were discovered and seized:
- 1451 packs of tobacco products of 50 grams of various brands, without excise tape,
- 337 packs of cigarettes of various brands, without excise tape,
- 184 liters of moonshine,
- pistol with an empty magazine,
- knife,
- 4240 euros in cash,
- 2 mobile phones.
The missing duties and taxes on homemade alcohol amount to EUR 17,155.31 and on tobacco products EUR 3,351.21, which will be reported to the competent customs authority. The seized weapons will be sent for laboratory testing to the Northern Greece Criminal Investigations Sub-Directorate. Those arrested were taken to the prosecutor’s office.
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