AADE: Nearly €1.2 Million Seized in Evros – “Ant Method” Used by Female Car Passengers
An unprecedented incident was uncovered at the Kastanies border crossing in Evros, when customs officers of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR, AADE) detected and seized €1,192,000 in cash that was being smuggled illegally from Turkey into Greece.
The money was discovered during a check of a passenger vehicle crossing the border from a neighboring country. The inspectors found the cash meticulously hidden on the bodies of three Greek women, concealed in specially designed belt pouches. This tactic is known as the “ant method” where funds are transported over multiple trips or by different individuals to avoid detection.
Investigation Into “Black Money”
Following the seizure, the case was referred to the Authority for Combating Money Laundering, which is investigating the origin of the funds.
If no connection to illegal activities is found, under current legislation, AADE will withhold 25% of the total amount and return the remaining 75% to the individuals involved.
The Second Largest Cash Seizure
The incident in Evros marks the second-largest cash seizure by Greek customs authorities. It is worth recalling that the largest was recorded on August 14, 2016, when €2,281,000 was discovered at “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport.
Authorities stress that border inspections have been intensified in an effort to combat the movement of undeclared funds and protect the economy from “black money” activities.