EU prosecutor leads massive raid on Piraeus port, smashes smuggling ring

The large-scale police operation, which began Wednesday, is part of a coordinated, multi-country investigation into a criminal network accused of defrauding the European Union of millions in customs duties and taxes.

Raids were carried out at 20 homes and customs brokerage offices across the greater Athens area. Authorities confirmed the seizure of approximately €4.5 million in cash and a trove of digital evidence. Of the eight people arrested, three face additional charges for illegal weapons possession.

The investigation, coordinated exclusively by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), targets a network believed to have systematically falsified cargo records during customs clearance at Piraeus, Greece's largest port.

By declaring different goods than those actually being imported, the ring was able to illegally evade tariffs.

The eight suspects are scheduled to be brought before the EPPO’s representative in Athens on Thursday to be formally charged.

The case highlights the growing role of the EPPO in tackling complex, cross-border financial crime that directly harms the EU’s budget.

The investigation reportedly spans six member states, including Greece, Italy, and Spain, showcasing a new level of integrated, transnational law enforcement.