A large quantity of contraband cigarettes was detected and seized by AADE inspectors at Athens International Airport “El. Venizelos Airport, preventing them from entering the Greek market.
As announced by the Independent Public Revenue Authority, a total of 414 were seized.900 pieces, which had been hidden in the luggage of eleven passengers arriving in Athens on flights from Ethiopia and Egypt. The operation was assisted by the specially trained tobacco product detection dog, VANE.
The eleven passengers were arrested and taken to the appropriate prosecutor. According to the AADE, the smuggled cigarettes were to be sold on the domestic market, with the lost duties and taxes estimated at 85,000 euros.
The revelation of this case comes as a result of the upgrading of customs controls provided for in the operational plan of the Hellenic Anti-Defamation Service to combat smuggling of tobacco products. The results are also reflected – as highlighted in the announcement issued by the Authority – in the data of the recent pan-European report of KPMG, where Greece recorded for the second consecutive year the largest decrease in the consumption of illicit cigarettes among the 27 EU member states.
Specifically, in 2025, the consumption of illicit tobacco products in our country decreased by 3.4 percentage points compared to 2024, while the loss of public revenue from evaded taxes and duties was reduced by €108 million.
“This is an important recognition of our long-term strategy to tackle smuggling. However, there is no room for complacency. We continue with undiminished intensity the controls at the country’s entry gates in order to safeguard public revenues, protect healthy competition and, above all, public health,” said the head of the AADE, George Pitsilis.
