AAΔΕ busted a liquefied gas smuggling network in 14 cities

AAΔΕ carried out a large-scale operation against a liquefied gas smuggling network in 14 cities in Greece. 15 tankers and about 293 thousand liters of fuel were seized.

Inspectors conducted a large-scale operation against a liquefied gas smuggling network Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή Δημοσίων Εσόδων (AAΔΕ, Independent State Revenue Administration) through the division ΔΕΟΣ.

The operation took place simultaneously in 14 cities in Greeceincluding Athens, Thessaloniki, Yanina, Rhodes, Kalamata And Santorini.

Coordination was carried out from the central operations room ΔΕΟΣ. More than 100 inspectorsdivided into 28 groups. Well, yes, when the tax office goes hunting in such a composition, this is no longer an inspection, but a small expedition of the state to recover lost excise taxes.

What the inspectors found

Inspectors suddenly entered the sites of companies that were already under surveillance and conducted customs And tax audits. At the same time, a possible connection with economic crimes was studied.

As a result of the operation, serious violations were identified:

• confiscated 15 tank trucks;
• found around 293,000 liters of liquefied gas;
• places of illegal storage and concealment of fuel were found;
• signs of an organized LPG trafficking scheme have been identified.

In connection with the case, the prosecutor was brought two people. The investigation continues as authorities try to fully establish the structure of the network and all participants in the scheme.

What will they check next?

Competent services AAΔΕ administrative and criminal measures are being prepared. At the next stage, the legality of the movement of liquefied gas to clients of the companies that came under investigation will be checked.

This means that the case may not be limited to warehouse or tanker truck owners. The final supply chains may also come under scrutiny if it turns out that fuel entered the market through illegal or semi-legal channels.

Editorial comment

The story of liquefied gas smuggling shows a familiar Greek problem: when fuel becomes more expensive, taxes are high, and controls remain spotty for a long time, gray schemes almost inevitably begin to grow around the market.

This is not just about unpaid taxes. Illegal fuel trafficking is a blow on several fronts at once: on the budget, on honest companies that operate within the rules, and on safety, because liquefied gas requires strict storage and transportation.

If the network really operated in 14 cities, this is no longer a local trick of a few “enterprising” traders, but an organized system. And such systems do not appear overnight. They grow where there has been demand, profit and confidence for a long time that the risk is lower than the benefit.

For the state, such operations are an opportunity to show strength. But the question, as always, is different: will this be a one-time “safari” for the sake of a beautiful press release or the beginning of permanent control of the fuel market.

Conclusion: The seizure of 15 tankers and hundreds of thousands of liters of LPG is a serious signal. But the real test will begin further: when the authorities will have to show not only a high-profile operation, but the ability to disassemble the entire chain – from warehouses and carriers to customers and final profits.

Source link