Ten suspects in alcohol smuggling case granted conditional release

Ten alleged members of a pack accused of smuggling alcoholic drinks and amerciable pesticides from Ukraine into Greece since 2012 person been granted conditional merchandise pending trial, aft testifying earlier an investigating magistrate successful Thessaloniki.

According to the indictment, the radical – consisting mostly of Greek nationals, on with 1 antheral and 1 woman from Ukraine – smuggled Ukrainian-made vodka with an intoxicant contented of implicit 80% successful particularly constructed hidden compartments successful foreign-registered tourist buses.

Once wrong Greece, the products were collected by members successful Thessaloniki and Athens, stored astatine predetermined locations controlled exclusively by the group, and sold astatine an mean terms of 10 euros per bottle.

The cognition was allegedly masterminded by a 60-year-old Greek antheral and his son.

As portion of the investigation, constabulary seized 529 bottles of vodka, 165 liters of counterfeit pesticides, 30 packs of cigarettes, and ample sums of cash, including €212,000, $1,100, and 20,000 Ukrainian hryvnias.

Prosecutors person referred each 10 defendants to trial connected charges of forming and participating successful a transgression organization, felony forgery, felony smuggling, and the amerciable import and organisation of pesticides.

Police authorities said that the group’s activities led to yearly state losses successful excess of €150,000, resulting from unpaid taxes, duties and different charges.

The probe began aft authorities received accusation astir the amerciable import of works extortion products promoted by email to cultivation supply stores crossed the country.