As a result of the coordinated 48-hour operation in the prefecture of Heraklion, the AADE customs inspectors identified and seized illegal tanks, production mechanisms and hundreds of thousands of liters of tsikoudia in rakokazana, according to an official announcement by the Authority.

Specifically, in Moiras, the following were identified and seized:

  • a copper still for preparation – distillation, with a capacity of 130 litres, which at the time of the inspection was in normal operation of distilling grape seeds for product production, without, however, having been issued the legally prescribed distillation license by the competent customs authority. 6,538 liters of tsikoudia, inside plastic tanks, barrels and plastic bottles, for which no corresponding distilling licenses or other document was presented, justifying the legal origin, possession and the previous payment of the corresponding duties and taxes. The customs officers arrested the person in charge of the facility. The evaded duties and taxes exceed 64,000 euros.

In Gazi, the following were located and seized:

  • a copper still for preparation – distillation, with a capacity of 130 litres, which at the time of the inspection was in normal operation of distilling grape seeds for product production, without having however been issued the legally prescribed distillation license by the competent customs authority
  • 16,654 liters of tsikoudia, in a garage, in plastic tanks and barrels, for which no corresponding distilling licenses or other document was presented, justifying the legal origin, possession and the previous payment of the corresponding duties, etc. wearer.

The brother of the person involved was arrested, who was found – at the time of the control – to be destroying a quantity of tsikoudia of the two-day distiller during the control in the above warehouse, given that the contraband drinks were stored with his knowledge, in a common area (outside backyard) and considered complicit in smuggling.

The owner of the ditch is evading arrest and is wanted.

The evaded duties and taxes are close to 195,000 euros.

The prosecutor of Plimmeliodiki of Heraklion ordered the execution of the autofofor procedure for the above arrested person who will be excused today.