5 members of a criminal organization were arrested, which were active in the illegal trafficking of oil and other energy products, with the aim of illegal economic benefit by police officers from the Organized Crime.

To end their action, in the early hours of yesterday, Friday, June 20, 2025, a police operation was carried out by the Bureau of Illegal Trafficking of goods and objects in areas of Thessaloniki, Kozani and Halkidiki.

The operation was identified by the 5 defendants, who were charged with a criminal organization, embezzlement, fraud, and a violation of the legislation involving the purchase of petroleum.

The case file includes -17 people – “customers” of the criminal group, of which -10 – have been identified and accused of accepting and disposing of crime products.

How did they act

In particular, as it emerged after a detailed investigation, a member of the criminal group, at least since January 2023, using strict contrasting measures, was supplied almost daily quantities of liquid fuel from the other arrested – tanker drivers, without the taxpayers.

These fuels were intended for gas stations, which received smaller quantities than the documents listed, which was not perceived, as the shortages were limited (of the order of -20 -liters per bite apartment) and were regarded as justified within the permitted technical.

Indeed, one of the tanker drivers had installed in its vehicle in its vehicle in order to intervene in the legally installed geographical location system (GPS), so that the owner company does not understand the detailed routes.

Subsequently, the first defendant sold the fuel to third parties for a price lower than the retail, without the issuance of legal documents and knowing that they came from a criminal activity.

It is estimated that in this way, the defendants managed to smuggle more than 230,000 liters of liquid fuels, with their total value exceeding EUR 345,000, while the illegal asset benefit of 288,000 euros.

What was found in investigations

From the investigations carried out in houses and elsewhere, in the presence of a representative of a judicial authority, with the assistance of the Thessaloniki Customs Audit Office, they were found and confiscated:

  • -8,600 euros,
  • plastic containers,
  • various objects used for the illegal unloading of fuel (keys and accessories),
  • Improvised metal construction (brush type), appropriate to fasten to a tanker tank tank of the tanker,
  • multitude of numbered seals, set up when unloading the vehicle with fuel in each compartment of the tank,
  • radio frequency interference and car.

The detainees were taken to the competent prosecutor.