Heaps of violations detected by the auditors during the summer months – Intensive controls continue
Intensive checks throughout the summer were carried out by the auditors of the General Directorate of the S.D.O.E throughout the country to protect the interests of the Greek State and the EU, to deal with fraud in the VAT sector. PA, the fight against fuel smuggling, the illegal trade in tobacco and counterfeit products and money laundering from illegal activities, as well as the illegal trafficking of narcotics.
Indicatively, we list the most important cases of audits during the summer of 2023 by the Operational Directorate of SDOE Attica:
A. FUEL ADULTERATION/SMUGGLING CONTROLS
In a control case in Attica, a case of fuel adulteration was identified for which a fine of €915,000 was imposed in accordance with the provisions of the procurement code (article 20 of Law 4177/13). Also, in another five (5) fuel adulteration control cases, fines of a total amount of €25,000 were imposed by fine decisions of the head of the Service Directorate in accordance with the provisions of the procurement law (article 20 Law 4177/13).
B. CONTROLS OF CONTRAUGHT TOBACCO PRODUCTS & DRUGS
1. Using relevant information from the S.E.K. and in cooperation with the 3rd Customs of Piraeus, and with the assistance of the detection dogs of the SDOE and the 3rd Customs respectively, the following quantities of contraband cigarettes were identified and seized:
– 9,200,000 pieces of contraband cigarettes, of a specific brand, for which the corresponding duties and taxes amount to €1,864,567.62.
– 8,900,000 pieces of contraband cigarettes (2 brands), for which the corresponding duties and taxes amount to €1,803,766.50.
-12,500,000 pieces of contraband cigarettes (4 brands), for which the corresponding duties and taxes amount to €2,533,379.92.
-18,100,000 pieces of contraband cigarettes (1 brand), for which the corresponding duties and taxes amount to €3,668,334.12.
– 9,020,000 pieces of contraband cigarettes (1 brand), for which the corresponding duties and taxes amount to €1,828,086.95.
2. Disrupted a circuit that trafficked – illegally exported from Greece to France, quantities of the medicinal substance pregabalin, which according to French legislation is considered a narcotic substance, and its administration is prohibited without a special prescription. In particular, from parallel operations carried out in courier companies, quantities of 17,640 and 6,300 pills were identified and seized respectively, i.e. a total of 23,940 pills of the medicinal substance pregabalin that were illegally sent to France, while following the surveillance of suspicious targets and the conduct of a corresponding operation, the persons involved were identified and brought to justice ( foreigners and Greeks) and a quantity of 9,268 pills was seized in their possession, which was intended for illegal trafficking-export, while charges were filed against them and submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office.
C. GRANT GRANT CONTROLS
Our Service, as part of its responsibilities to safeguard the interests of the Greek State and the EU, carried out audits on legal entities that received grants based on the Development Law 3299/2004.
1. Following complex audit actions they were found illegal actions in terms of over-invoicing costs, by obtaining illegal documents resulting in the audited companies receiving greater state aid.
In total, in six (6) businesses in Attica, Trikala, Kos and Rhodes & Florina, violations were detected and the recovery of the illegally received grants totaling €11,219,703.50 was requested. More specifically, the following cases were identified:
ITEM OF WORKS TOTAL AMOUNT OF RECOVERY
GAMING BUSINESS IN CENTRAL MACEDONIA €4,874,203
POULTRY BUSINESS IN ATTICA €3,280,000
HOTEL UNIT IN KOS €262,200 HOTEL UNIT IN RHODES €53,300
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN ATTICA €450,000
HOTEL UNIT IN TRIKALA €2,300,000
2. Also, in the first of the above audits, a case of a transactional relationship between a legal entity and a natural person, amounting to €450,000, was identified, without any legal transaction between them existing or being proven by documents.
D. FRAUD & TAX EVASION CHECKS
Investigation completed at a business with activity Wholesale Precious Metals. The audit found the trafficking of precious metals both in Greece and abroad without issuing tax documents with a total value of more than €13.5 million for which VAT amounts were charged. €7,934,000 & Income €13,500,000 in total 21,434,000 €.
E. COUNTERFEIT TRAFFIC CONTROLS
Nine (9) businesses in Crete, Rhodes and Attica dealing in counterfeit products were inspected and a total of 9 seizures were made involving 4,486 counterfeit products and the amount of 3,841.55 euros in reimbursements to be returned. The above businesses collected the amount of €11,332,877.64 from customers, without paying the due taxes.
G. CONTROLS OF THE PROTECTION OF INTERESTS OF THE GREEK PUBLIC AND THE EU.
Our Service provided assistance in a coordinated operation of the Department for Combating Organized Crime of Crete (TAOEK) of the Hellenic Police. held in Crete to dismantle a ring of illegal adoptions. In addition to operational assistance, our Service carried out the removal of bank and tax secrecy and control of bank accounts and provided assistance in the identification of seven (7) off-shore companies that were allegedly used by the members of the ring to hide their criminal income derived from the as above criminal activity, which amounted to at least €3,000,000.
The auditors of S.D.O.E. Attica will continue the inspections with greater intensity and determination.
Source: Skai
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