Greek authorities stop smuggling of waterpipe tobacco
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Greek tax authorities and the Special Duty Enforcement Authority (ΔΕΟΣ) seized smuggled waterpipe tobacco originating from a cafe owner in Greece.
Investigators examined five suspicious packages at a courier company and discovered 504 packages of waterpipe tobacco weighing 63 kilograms intended for shipment abroad. They identified the sender as the owner of a cafe that allows customers to smoke waterpipes.
A search of the owner’s home revealed 7,000 euros in cash and an additional 4,012 packages of tobacco weighing 750 kilograms in a nearby storage unit. Authorities also seized 1,750 euros and 78 containers of tobacco weighing 13 kilograms from the cafe itself. Investigators found the cafe owner had previously sent seven shipments declaring the contents as incense, but these shipments also contained waterpipe tobacco.
In total, officials confiscated 826 kilograms of tobacco and 8,750 euros, with an additional 87.1 kilograms having escaped seizure. The evaded taxes and duties on the tobacco total 220,000 euros, and authorities have charged the owner with smuggling.
