
The Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) announced the results of controls to combat smuggling and the trafficking of drugs, weapons, cigarettes, cash and counterfeit products, etc.
Kipoi Customs officials with the decisive contribution of the detection dog Axel detected: 7 paper bags in the inner lining of a suitcase in an passenger car of a French national leaving for Turkey, which contained a total of 71,950 euros. The amount was confiscated and a fine of approximately 20,000 euros was imposed.
Komotini Customs officers discovered and confiscated the following products as contraband:
885 kg of flavored hookah tobacco
30 packs of cigarettes
160 Pieces Smoke Heaters (Full Sets)
10 liters of alcoholic drink and
50 liters of oil.
The corresponding duties and taxes amount to 251,762 euros.
At Athens International Airport “El. Venizelos”
At the Athens Airport Customs “El. Venizelos” the competent officials found in the EXTRA SCHENGEN passenger hall, five abandoned pieces of luggage which had arrived by flight from Cairo. Upon inspection, it was found that they contained a total of 93,400 duty-free cigarettes and 119 kg of duty-free hookah tobacco. The above items were confiscated and the corresponding duties and taxes amount to a total of 59,005.33 euros.
At the same airport, the customs inspectors found a passenger, coming from Dubai, who brought with him cash, €90,000 and 33,500 dollars, for which he did not make the relevant declaration to the Customs, as he should have. The money has been frozen and a 25% penalty will be charged on the frozen amount. That is, 22,500 euros and 8,375 dollars. Also, a passenger from Abu Dhabi was detected with undeclared cash of 18,000 euros, which was seized and a fine of 25% of the seized amount, i.e. 4,500 euros, will be collected.
Finally, at the Macedonia airport, customs inspectors found a passport holder of the Republic of Armenia in possession of the undeclared sums of 9,615 euros, 1,900 US dollars, and 1,000 Armenian drams.


Latest News

Eurostat: Women and Youth Most Underpaid in Greece
In the EU 18.2% of women are low-paid compared to men, against 23% in Greece. A staggering 43% of young Greeks are low-paid—the second-worst rate in Europe.

Public Services in Greece to Go Under Review with New Rating Tool
Public services will receive their evaluation scores and feedback directly, fostering a system of accountability and continuous improvement.

Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”

Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.

Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region