Shippingtelegraph: Greek authorities intensify crackdown on maritime fuel smuggling

by Shipping Telegraph

The Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has intensified its efforts against fuel smuggling, with particular emphasis on maritime operations.

The Maritime Control Teams of Customs Auditing Service of Attica (EL.Y.T.), utilizing anti-smuggling vessels and working in close coordination with the Central Operations Room of AADE, are conducting daily targeted inspections on ships and coastal points, mainly in areas where ships are supplied with marine fuels.

Recently, three cases of marine fuel smuggling have been recorded. On July 31, during a targeted inspection of a vessel at Piraeus, the Maritime Control Team detected a surplus quantity of 11,687 liters of marine oil.

Earlier in July, a container ship was found to have a surplus quantity of 39,336 liters of oil, which had not been declared in the relevant customs documents.

In another case, a general cargo ship was caught carrying 24,500 liters of excess marine oil and 10,169 kilograms of low-sulfur crude oil, both lacking the required documentation regarding their origin.

As it is reported, to detect the surplus quantities, authorities used specialized measuring equipment for the physical inventory of fuels, whilst comparison of shipping and customs documents was carried out.

The inconsistencies between the quantities found in the physical inventory checks in relation to the documents, led to the classification of the cases as marine fuel smuggling. These inconsistencies resulted in fines exceeding €161,000.

The AADE has stated it will continue intensively its inspections on smuggling fuel, utilizing every available means and element, with the aim of uncovering and effectively dealing with every form of criminality.