Appropriate utilization of information was preceded
The Directorate of Economic Police proceeded to dismantle a ring, the members of which imported chemical solvents from Bulgaria, mixed them with fuel and then proceeded to their further distribution through two gas stations in areas of Attica.
For the case, 3 members of the ring (ages 60, 32 and 19) were arrested and a case file was filed against them as well as against 8 other people for – as the case may be – violations of the National Customs Code and the laws regulating the purchase of products and the provision of services as well as on competition.
According to ELAS, appropriate use of information was preceded, while in the context of the police investigation that followed under the coordination of the Coordinating Operations Center (SEC), it was established that the specific circuit imported chemical solvents from the Bulgaria and moved them to a storage area in an area of Western Attica.
There, a liquid fuel tanker was supplied with solvents and moved to a parking area in Western Attica, where it transferred the material to other tankers which then supplied two liquid fuel stations in areas of Attica.
In more detail, the 60-year-old was spotted and arrested the evening before yesterday, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at one of the above gas stations, at the time he was supplying the station’s tank with chemical solvents, which he had previously supplied from the warehouse in Western Attica, while the 32-year-old accompanied the tanker on the way to the gas station.
In fact, for the non-detection of the illegal chemical solvents, it was found that a special electronic board had been constructed, which prevented their registration in the input-output system monitored by the Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE), while during the sale of the counterfeit of fuel, the prescribed tax documents were not issued.
According to the APE MPE, in this context, the AADE proceeded to seal the gas station in question for the falsification of the input-output system, while at the other gas station, the competent echelon of the Fuel Handling and Storage Control Directorate was called and samples were taken to examine the quality of the fuel .
In investigations carried out, among others, in the above warehouse and parking area, with the assistance of levels of the Customs Group Supervision, the Directorate of Political Quality and Metrology of the Ministry of Development and Investments, the Directorate of Fuel Traffic and Storage Control and the Economic Crime Prosecution Service (S. D.O.E.), found and seized:
• 29,602 liters of chemical solvent mixture,
• 17,470 liters of liquid fuel (probably diesel), without documentary evidence of possession and handling,
• 4 tankers, 2 mounted tankers,
• ICHE, IHF tractor, flatbed truck
• 3 mobile phones,
• 23,355 euros,
• a number of plastic tanks, company seals and handwritten notes.
It is noted that the missing taxes, duties and other charges are estimated at 43,897.39 euros.
Those arrested were taken to the competent prosecuting authority.
