EU seizes record $294M worth of goods in Greek customs fraud probe

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) said Monday that more than 2,400 shipping containers were seized at Greece’s port of Piraeus in the bloc's biggest-ever container seizure, worth at least €250 million ($294 million).

The seizure comes under the EU-wide Investigation Calypso, which targets criminal networks accused of flooding the European market with goods fraudulently imported from China while evading customs duties and VAT.

According to the office, six individuals, including two customs officers, have been charged in Athens over their alleged involvement. Four have been in detention since June, while one customs broker was detained on Friday.

The containers, mostly filled with e-bikes, textiles and footwear, were intercepted following coordinated raids in late June across four countries, which also led to the arrest of 10 suspects. The office said this marks the largest seizure of containers to date in the EU.

Preliminary inspections show widespread misdeclaration and undervaluation of goods. In some cases, only 10-15% of the actual number of e-bikes in a container were declared, the office said. Losses to the EU budget from e-bikes alone are estimated at €37.5 million ($44.1 million), including VAT losses.

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi said the operation sends "a simple message" to organized networks: "The rules of the game have changed, no more safe havens for you."

The fraud scheme, which allegedly ran for at least eight years, is believed to have caused over €350 million ($411 million) in lost customs duties and €450 million ($529 million) in VAT. Authorities have observed higher compliance since the June raids, with importers declaring goods at closer-to-market prices, according to the prosecutors’ office.

The office said further evidence gathering is ongoing.