Police announce 107 arrests over illicit tobacco and cigarette trade

A total of 107 suspects have been arrested in Greece for the illicit trade of tobacco and cigarettes, between the 7th and 18th of March.

The police operation code named “Eclipse” was part of a broader initiative in southeast Europe, that saw cooperation with authorities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, FYROM, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

The police in Greece inspected 7,554 people, confirmed 83 violations and seized 929,897 cigarettes and 298 kilos of tobacco. No taxes had been paid for the seized tobacco products.

Of the 107 who were arrested, 50 are Greek nationals, 31 from Pakistan, 14 from Albania, 4 from Bulgaria, 3 from Bangladesh, 2 from Romania, 2 from Syria and 1 from FYROM.

The members of one gang – which included seven Pakistani nationals and one Greek expatriate – recently busted by the police in Nea Ionia posed as fast food delivery employees. A total of 14,040 packs of cigarettes and 26 kilos of tobacco were seized.