EPPO seizes 2,435 containers in Piraeus amid EU customs fraud probe

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) announced connected Monday that since June it has seized 2,435 containers astatine the larboard of Piraeus successful transportation with an EU customs fraud case.

Six individuals, including two customs officers, person been charged.

The defendants look charges of repeated mendacious certification, which resulted successful unlawful gains and losses to the EU fund exceeding €871,000, arsenic well arsenic abetting customs fraud.

“The archetypal 500 shipping containers were seized during the raid successful June. An further 1,935 that were successful transit to the EU were seized upon accomplishment astatine the larboard of Piraeus, bringing the total to 2,435,” the announcement states.

“This is the largest seizure of containers to day successful the EU,” it adds.

According to the announcement, the containers are presently under inspection.

They were chiefly loaded with e-bikes, textiles, and footwear imported from China, with customs duties and VAT evaded done the systematic underdeclaration of their true value.

The June raid successful Piraeus was portion of Operation Calypso, which spanned 4 countries and targeted transgression networks progressive successful large-scale VAT fraud linked to imports from China. A total of 10 individuals were arrested crossed the EU.

The EPPO said the fraud had been ongoing for astatine slightest 8 years, causing damages of astatine slightest €350 cardinal successful customs duties and €450 cardinal successful VAT.

Since the June raid, EPPO noted that Greek customs authorities person reported higher compliance, with importers astatine Piraeus declaring akin goods astatine values person to their existent worth.