In the confiscation 144,906 bottles of alcoholic beverages of branded consumer goods, the authorities proceeded to the port of Piraeus.

In particular, after research and utilization of information with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), 10 containers with a load of illegal alcoholic beverages originating from Georgia and destined for third countries were identified and checked. In cooperation with the 3rd Customs House of Piraeus and the Organized Crime Department of Crete of the Hellenic Police, a quantity of 144,906 bottles of branded alcoholic beverages of popular brands were seized at the port of Piraeus, samples of which were sent for examination to the Chemical Service of Attica. Examination of the samples revealed that the illegal cargo of alcoholic beverages was irregular and it was seized.

The confiscated quantities of alcoholic beverages were transferred to storage areas for safekeeping.

The successful outcome of this operation was contributed by information obtained from a similar operation which was carried out by the Operational Directorate of S.D.O.E. Attica together with the Organized Crime Department (TAOE) in the area of ​​Crete in the summer of 2022, where a large quantity of inappropriate alcoholic beverages was detected. It is pointed out that Greek businesses were identified that imported and made available on the Greek market unsuitable alcoholic beverages.

This particular investigation contributed to the disclosure of a large trafficking ring of unsuitable alcoholic beverages which led the European Authorities to confiscate large quantities of unsuitable beverages from businesses in the Netherlands.

From the tracing of the origin of the illegal alcoholic beverages, it was found that a large amount of them have undergone falsification of the details of the bottles and alteration of the traceability numbers (LOT number), which strengthens the suspicions of the existence of a specific method of action (modus operandi) from the point of view of smuggling rings which aims at the re-promotion and channeling of the quantities in question both in the Greek and in the European market.

For the illegal trafficking of alcoholic beverages, a case file is filed by the Greek Police/Department for Countering Organized Crime of Crete. The smuggling of alcoholic beverages extends beyond the borders of any country and is a major global threat to public health.