Tobacco.org

Greek customs officials charged over cigarette scam 

Three Greek customs officials were charged Thursday with helping a cigarette smuggling scam and defrauding the Greek state of an estimated ¤100 million (US$144 million) in lost taxes, authorities said.

The three officials work at the Evzoni border crossing with Macedonia and were all charged with fraud and falsifying and concealing financial documents _ criminal offenses that carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

They are accused of falsifying papers to allow the tax-free export of 55 container loads of tobacco, cigarette paper and filters bound for Germany and Austria.

Jump to full article »