A major Greek police operation led to the dismantling of a criminal network that had organized an extensive illegal trafficking network for ethyl alcohol and energy products. Three Bulgarian nationals are at the center of the case, with their expected profits exceeding 1.5 million euros, as officially announced by the Hellenic Police. The Northern Greece Organized Crime Unit determined that the network had been operating systematically since February 2025. The three accused, two 46-year-olds and one 41-year-old, had created an organized structure for smuggling products subject to Special Consumption Tax. The Human and Goods Trafficking Unit worked closely with the relevant AADE services and Bulgarian authorities to expose the counterfeiting network.
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The roles of the Bulgarian gang trafficking illegal alcohol
Each member of the network had specific responsibilities in operating the illegal operation. The first 46-year-old Bulgarian had secured property in a rural area of Thessaloniki, which was used as a central warehouse for the counterfeit products. The second 46-year-old had a trailer truck for transporting ethyl alcohol, while having specialized equipment including a forklift, manual pallet truck, and liquid pumping machine. The 41-year-old operated as a “front man,” as it was proven he owns and manages 97 companies of various forms, while the warehouse rental was done illegally through a private agreement in Bulgaria.
What was seized in the police operation
The July 14th operation, with assistance from the Thessaloniki Customs Control Service and the Central Macedonia Chemical Service, revealed the true scale of the network. Authorities located and seized a total of 87 plastic pallet tanks with a capacity of 1,000 liters each.
Specifically seized:
- 50 tanks containing ethyl alcohol totaling 48,450 liters
- 37 tanks containing energy products resembling solvents, totaling 35,250 liters
- Specialized equipment for transporting and handling the products
The expected profit for the Bulgarians from not paying customs duties and the commercial value of the counterfeit products is estimated at over 1,500,000 euros. The three defendants face serious charges for criminal organization and violations of the National Customs Code. The seized products were handled according to prescribed procedures. The 3rd Customs Office E.F.K. Thessaloniki carried out redistillation of the energy products, while the ethyl alcohol was transferred for safe storage. The case file was submitted to the competent prosecutor’s office for further investigation.
