Leak exposes fuel smugglers

A leak from within constabulary information services whitethorn person tipped disconnected a substance smuggling web under investigation, according to judicial records and information sources. 

The probe, led by the Hellenic Police’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime – sometimes called Greece’s “FBI” – resulted successful 22 arrests past week crossed Attica and different regions. 

Documents uncover that by precocious June, astir three months aft surveillance began, suspects learned they were being watched, prompting them to intermission operations and tighten information measures.

Authorities judge the tip-off came from a subordinate of the information services alternatively than the suspects detecting surveillance. Investigators said the radical stored chemic solvents used to adulterate gasoline successful underground tanks astatine an abandoned state station successful Mykani, Trikala successful cardinal Greece. 

The chemicals, imported from Poland via the Promachonas borderline crossing, totaled 212,000 liters betwixt April and June.

The web aboriginal used a concealed tank successful Kileler for storage and moved smuggling operations to different monitored areas, constabulary said.

Excavations this week astatine a ιστοσελίδα successful Ano Liosia uncovered a hidden tank containing astir 100 tons of untaxed marine diesel, allegedly resold arsenic heating fuel. One suspect is accused of supplying vessels with marine fuel.

Six of the 22 defendants were ordered jailed aft lengthy tribunal hearings Sunday.