Drones, ROVs and social networks: ΑΑΔΕ launches tax special forces

ΑΑΔΕ strengthens new service ΔΕΟΣ: drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray and digital checks turn tax control into a special operation.

Key Findings

• ΔΕΟΣ becomes a new power structure ΑΑΔΕ to combat major tax crime and smuggling.
• The service uses drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray, cameras and digital checks.
• IN 2026 planned at least 39,300 checks with the participation 450 specialized inspectors.
• The first operations have already revealed false educational documents, smuggled cigarettes and 229 luxury cars.

Independent State Revenue Administration, (ΑΑΔΕ) takes the fight against major tax and customs crime to a new level. New service ? (General Directorate of Forces for the Control of Economic Operations, ΔΕΟΣ) receives drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray, cameras, endoscopes and access to large-scale digital data.

The crux of the matter

• ΔΕΟΣ – new structure ΑΑΔΕcreated to combat severe tax crime, smuggling, money laundering and illegal capital.
• IN 2026 the service plans at least 39,300 inspections and investigations with approximately 450 specialized inspectors.
• In service – 6 aerial dronesunderwater ROV, 3 anti-smuggling boatsX-Ray cameras, endoscopes and equipment for operational surveillance.
• Checks will be based on data from Taxis, ΕΦΚΑ, ΓΕΜΗbanks, customs systems, myDATA and even social networks.

According to the operational plan ΑΑΔΕ on 2026new service ΔΕΟΣ must spend at least 39,300 inspections and investigations. This is reported Proto Theme, Newsit And Naftemporiki.

By design ΑΑΔΕthe new directorate must unite the hitherto fragmented powers of tax and customs control so that inspections become faster, more accurate and carried out through a single operational center. Formally, we are talking about the tax service. In fact, the set of tools increasingly resembles an organized crime unit. A tax lady with an underwater drone sounds like a joke until she swims up to your tanker.

Drones, ROVs and boats

Available ΔΕΟΣ are 6 aerial drones and one underwater unmanned vehicle type ROV. According to NaftemporikiV 2026 planned at least 18 special operations using an underwater drone, primarily to combat maritime smuggling, illegal cargo and fuel schemes.

In addition, the service has 3 anti-smuggling boatsstationary system X-Ray for checking parcels and luggage, 36 portable camerasendoscopes, radiation detection equipment, special vehicles and equipment for operational observation.

A special role is assigned maritime control groupwhich must spend at least 400 checks during the year, of which 60 — using anti-smuggling vessels of the customs service. The main emphasis is on the smuggling of petroleum products, where, according to tax and customs authorities, the state continues to lose significant amounts.

Not just taxes

Authority ΔΕΟΣ are not limited to classic tax audits. The service will deal with cases related to smuggling, illegal movement of capital, money laundering, VATas well as identifying illicit trafficking in drugs, weapons, explosives, antiquities and cultural property.

Besides, ΔΕΟΣ will participate in checks on illegal employment and violations of insurance legislation, transmitting relevant data to Επιθεώρηση Εργασίας (Labor Inspectorate).

Operational plan ΑΑΔΕ on 2026 provides, among other things, 18,000 on-site preventive inspections, 14,500 checks of mobile groups, 900 investigations into fraud with intra-union VAT, 800 money laundering and asset recovery checks, as well as 600 operations on drugs, weapons, explosives and antiquities.

Digital control network

The main weapon of the new service is not only boats and drones, but data. ΔΕΟΣ will use information from Taxis, ΕΦΚΑ, ΓΕΜΗbanks, customs and information systems, myDATAas well as signals from citizens – both registered and anonymous complaints.

Separately, Greek media note that publications on social networks may also come to the attention of inspectors. Luxurious lifestyles, expensive cars, yachts, travel and conspicuous consumption will be weighed against officially declared incomes. In other words, if a person lives like an oil prince, but declares income like a tired kiosk, the state can now become interested in this faster than subscribers can like it.

This approach dramatically changes the nature of tax control. Previously, the inspector looked for documents and waited for an answer. Now the system itself collects traces: banking movements, customs data, real estate, cars, electronic bills, POS, social networks and complaints. Very convenient. Especially for the state.

The first high-profile operations

During the first months of work ΔΕΟΣ has already carried out several high-profile operations. At the end of March, inspectors checked 6 educational institutions V Attica, Chania And Ioanninawhich, according to inspections, issued unverified or unconfirmed adult education documents. According to Taxheaventhe illegal profits of these enterprises for 2024, 2025 and part of 2026 amounted to approximately 3.2 million euros.

Almost simultaneously ΔΕΟΣ uncovered an international cigarette smuggling ring. According to Forinafter a long observation, inspectors carried out checks in two apartments in the center Athens and in Eastern Atticawhere they found and seized 6,500 packs smuggled cigarettes of famous brands. Two foreigners were detained.

According to the investigation, the cigarettes came from Turkeyand then through an organized network were sent to other European countries. For the tax service, this is no longer a story about a “check without VAT”, but cross-border criminal logistics.

Hunting for supercars

One of the most notable operations was the inspection of luxury cars. According to Naftemporiki And Proto Themeinspectors ΔΕΟΣ blocked 229 luxury cars total estimated value of more than 10 million euros.

The list included Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and other premium brands. Some cars, according to media reports, were valued at up to 750,000 euros per unit.

The violations concerned illegal registration, undervaluation, tax residency issues, πόθεν έσχες (origin of funds) and discrepancies between lifestyle and officially declared income. The checks were based on data from toll roads, customs offices and digital risk analysis tools.

International cooperation

ΔΕΟΣ also strengthens cooperation with international structures, including EUROPOL, INTERPOL And OLAF. The goal is to quickly share information about international networks of economic crime, smuggling, money laundering and the illicit movement of goods.

For Greece this is especially important due to the country’s geographical location. Ports, islands, shipping routes, land borders, tourism, real estate and a large cash-based sector make the country an easy playground for both legitimate businesses and schemes that have thrived on lax controls for decades.

Editorial comment

ΔΕΟΣ shows that the Greek tax service is transforming from a paper-based service into a digital powerhouse. The fight against large-scale smuggling and money laundering is necessary, but there is a downside: the more a government collects data, the more important it is to control how it uses it. Otherwise, under the slogan of fighting crime, you can build a system where a citizen is always under suspicion, and the tax office sees more than any normal person would like.

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