After a four-month investigation, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority has dismantled a cigarette manufacturing and trafficking ring, which in the space of eight years allegedly damaged the state by one billion euros.
In particular, by order of the head of the Authority, former Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Haralambos Vourliotis, 42 properties were blocked throughout Greece, including a hotel, villas and maisonettes, a factory in Aspropyrgos where the smuggled cigarettes were processed, 76 vessels, including 3 tankers (two carrying containers and one carrying oil) and two commercial vessels offered for hire, 26 luxury cars (Porsche, Land Rover etc.), a number of other vessels, including a number of other vessels, which were offered for hire.etc.), trucks, trailers, caravans, etc. In addition, bank accounts and bank boxes were frozen.
The case involves 38 individuals, some of whom have already been remanded in custody, and 21 legal entities (SAs, LLCs, shipping companies, etc.)
Among those arrested are two brothers, code-named “President” and “Putin”, who are alleged to be the masterminds of the scheme, while four other individuals linked to one family are alleged to have played a leading role, with the others acting as accomplices or “satellites”. The laundering of dirty money was done through “ghost” companies, fictitious invoices, false certificates, etc.
