Greek media describe what happened at the Mavromatis (World Neck) customs as one of the most serious corruption scandals in the public sector, which was discovered after a months-long investigation by the Internal Affairs Service of the Security Forces.
The corruption scheme came to light with the arrests of 13 customs officials, which practically led to the dissolution of the Greek staff at this customs point that connects southern Albania with the neighboring country.
The operation took place in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, and the customs officers face charges of bribery, extortion, participation in a criminal organization, and dereliction of duty.
According to Greek media, the network has been carrying out systematic activity within Mavromatis customs, bypassing established customs controls or offering favorable treatment in exchange for financial benefits.
According to the Anti-Money Laundering Authority in Greece, customs officers have benefited from illegal activity for the period from January 1, 2023 to July 4, 2025, at least 456,878 euros.
This amount was calculated based on data obtained from the internal investigation and bank checks on the accounts of the individuals involved. The Authority identified deposits and money transfers with amounts of unknown origin, which are not consistent with the declared income or economic activities of the individuals under investigation.
Based on these indications, it was suspected that there was an attempt to launder the proceeds by involving them in legitimate economic activities or mixing them with clean assets.
Meanwhile, the Greek judiciary has ordered the immediate freezing of all movable and immovable assets of the 13 customs officers under investigation, including bank accounts, cash in safes, investments and other securities.
The case is being closely monitored by the financial prosecutor's office, while the possibility of new arrests or expansion of the circle of suspects is not ruled out. As is clear from the order itself, the structure of the network refers to a well-organized criminal organization, with distinct roles and specific practices for concealing illegal income.
The scandal has already caused strong reactions at the political level, as questions are raised about the degree of control and oversight in Greece's critical public structures. (A2 Televizion)
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