Authorities this week announced several arrested in relation to a wide-ranging investigation targeting tampered gas station pumps.
Thirteen arrests were reported during inspections of at least 20 petrol stations in several prefectures, including the greater Athens area and Thessaloniki, including the alleged mastermind behind the criminal operation.
Another five suspects are sought in the case.
Charges include forming and participating in a criminal organization, fraud, adulteration of fuels, tax evasion, illegal firearms possession and money laundering, among others.
Police and tax bureau inspectors estimate that consumers were cheated out of some 25 million euros over a five-year period.
The alleged ringleader behind the scam reportedly owned 20 companies, each operating a gas station, where authorities said he installed and used illegal software to bypass the legal input-output system, which made it possible to deliver less fuel than was paid for by consumers at the pump.
Source: tovima.com
