Drones, ROVs and social networks: ΑΑΔΕ launches tax special forces

ΑΑΔΕ strengthens caller work ΔΕΟΣ: drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray and integer checks turn tax power into a special operation.

Key Findings

• ΔΕΟΣ becomes a caller powerfulness structure ΑΑΔΕ to combat large tax transgression and smuggling.
• The work uses drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray, cameras and integer checks.
• IN 2026 planned astatine slightest 39,300 checks with the information 450 specialized inspectors.
• The archetypal operations person already revealed mendacious acquisition documents, smuggled cigarettes and 229 luxury cars.

Independent State Revenue Administration, (ΑΑΔΕ) takes the combat against large tax and customs transgression to a caller level. New work ? (General Directorate of Forces for the Control of Economic Operations, ΔΕΟΣ) receives drones, underwater ROVanti-smuggling boats, X-Ray, cameras, endoscopes and entree to large-scale integer data.

The crux of the matter

• ΔΕΟΣ – caller structure ΑΑΔΕcreated to combat terrible tax crime, smuggling, wealth laundering and amerciable capital.
• IN 2026 the work plans astatine slightest 39,300 inspections and investigations with astir 450 specialized inspectors.
• In work – 6 aerial dronesunderwater ROV, 3 anti-smuggling boatsX-Ray cameras, endoscopes and instrumentality for operational surveillance.
• Checks will beryllium based connected information from Taxis, ΕΦΚΑ, ΓΕΜΗbanks, customs systems, myDATA and adjacent κοινωνικά networks.

According to the operational program ΑΑΔΕ connected 2026new work ΔΕΟΣ indispensable spend astatine slightest 39,300 inspections and investigations. This is reported Proto Theme, Newsit And Naftemporiki.

By plan ΑΑΔΕthe caller directorate indispensable unite the hitherto fragmented powers of tax and customs power so that inspections go faster, much close and carried retired done a single operational center. Formally, we are talking astir the tax service. In fact, the acceptable of tools progressively resembles an organized transgression unit. A tax woman with an underwater drone sounds similar a gag until she swims up to your tanker.

Drones, ROVs and boats

Available ΔΕΟΣ are 6 aerial drones and 1 underwater unmanned vehicle type ROV. According to NaftemporikiV 2026 planned astatine slightest 18 special operations utilizing an underwater drone, chiefly to combat maritime smuggling, amerciable cargo and substance schemes.

In addition, the work has 3 anti-smuggling boatsstationary system X-Ray for checking parcels and luggage, 36 portable camerasendoscopes, radiation detection equipment, special vehicles and instrumentality for operational observation.

A special relation is assigned maritime power groupwhich indispensable spend astatine slightest 400 checks during the year, of which 60 — utilizing anti-smuggling vessels of the customs service. The main accent is connected the smuggling of petroleum products, where, according to tax and customs authorities, the state continues to suffer important amounts.

Not conscionable taxes

Authority ΔΕΟΣ are not constricted to classical tax audits. The work will woody with cases related to smuggling, amerciable question of capital, wealth laundering, VATas well arsenic identifying illicit trafficking successful drugs, weapons, explosives, antiquities and taste property.

Besides, ΔΕΟΣ will enactment successful checks connected amerciable employment and violations of security legislation, transmitting applicable information to Επιθεώρηση Εργασίας (Labor Inspectorate).

Operational program ΑΑΔΕ connected 2026 provides, among different things, 18,000 on-site preventive inspections, 14,500 checks of mobile groups, 900 investigations into fraud with intra-union VAT, 800 wealth laundering and plus betterment checks, arsenic well arsenic 600 operations connected drugs, weapons, explosives and antiquities.

Digital power network

The main weapon of the caller work is not lone boats and drones, but data. ΔΕΟΣ will use accusation from Taxis, ΕΦΚΑ, ΓΕΜΗbanks, customs and accusation systems, myDATAas well arsenic signals from citizens – some registered and anonymous complaints.

Separately, Greek media enactment that publications connected κοινωνικά networks whitethorn besides travel to the attraction of inspectors. Luxurious lifestyles, costly cars, yachts, travel and conspicuous depletion will beryllium weighed against officially declared incomes. In different words, if a idiosyncratic lives similar an lipid prince, but declares income similar a bushed kiosk, the state tin present go funny successful this faster than subscribers tin similar it.

This attack dramatically changes the quality of tax control. Previously, the inspector looked for documents and waited for an answer. Now the system itself collects traces: banking movements, customs data, existent estate, cars, physics bills, POS, κοινωνικά networks and complaints. Very convenient. Especially for the state.

The archetypal high-profile operations

During the archetypal months of work ΔΕΟΣ has already carried retired respective high-profile operations. At the extremity of March, inspectors checked 6 acquisition institutions V Attica, Chania And Ioanninawhich, according to inspections, issued unverified oregon unconfirmed big acquisition documents. According to Taxheaventhe amerciable profits of these enterprises for 2024, 2025 and portion of 2026 amounted to astir 3.2 cardinal euros.

Almost simultaneously ΔΕΟΣ uncovered an planetary cigaret smuggling ring. According to Forinafter a agelong observation, inspectors carried retired checks successful two apartments successful the halfway Athens and successful Eastern Atticawhere they recovered and seized 6,500 packs smuggled cigarettes of celebrated brands. Two foreigners were detained.

According to the investigation, the cigarettes came from Turkeyand then done an organized web were sent to different European countries. For the tax service, this is nary longer a story astir a “check without VAT”, but cross-border transgression logistics.

Hunting for supercars

One of the astir notable operations was the inspection of luxury cars. According to Naftemporiki And Proto Themeinspectors ΔΕΟΣ blocked 229 luxury cars total estimated value of much than 10 cardinal euros.

The database included Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and different premium brands. Some cars, according to media reports, were valued astatine up to 750,000 euros per unit.

The violations acrophobic amerciable registration, undervaluation, tax residency issues, πόθεν έσχες (origin of funds) and discrepancies betwixt manner and officially declared income. The checks were based connected information from toll roads, customs offices and integer hazard investigation tools.

International cooperation

ΔΕΟΣ besides strengthens practice with planetary structures, including EUROPOL, INTERPOL And OLAF. The extremity is to rapidly stock accusation astir planetary networks of economical crime, smuggling, wealth laundering and the illicit question of goods.

For Greece this is particularly important owed to the country’s geographical location. Ports, islands, shipping routes, onshore borders, tourism, existent property and a ample cash-based assemblage marque the state an casual playground for some morganatic businesses and schemes that person thrived connected lax controls for decades.

Editorial comment

ΔΕΟΣ shows that the Greek tax work is transforming from a paper-based work into a integer powerhouse. The combat against large-scale smuggling and wealth laundering is necessary, but there is simply a downside: the much a authorities collects data, the much important it is to power however it uses it. Otherwise, under the slogan of warring crime, you tin physique a system where a national is ever under suspicion, and the tax bureau sees much than immoderate mean idiosyncratic would like.

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