The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has carried out the largest container seizure in EU history at Piraeus port, dismantling criminal networks that smuggled Chinese goods into Europe, causing losses of more than €800 million.
The Operation
The investigation, code-named “Calypso”, led to the arrest of six individuals – two customs officials and four brokers – charged with involvement in a large-scale customs fraud scheme.
A total of 2,435 containers were seized at Piraeus, Greece’s largest port, majority-owned by China’s state company COSCO. The shipments, mainly e-bikes, e-scooters, textiles, and footwear, had been fraudulently imported to avoid anti-dumping duties.
The scheme cost the EU budget an estimated €350 million in unpaid customs duties and €450 million in VAT losses.
The Charges
- Customs officials face charges of repeated false certification.
- Brokers are accused of customs fraud and incitement of false declarations.
According to EPPO, the networks operated for at least eight years, engaging in large-scale tax evasion and money laundering, with profits funneled back to China.
Kövesi’s Statement
EPPO’s Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruța Kövesi declared: “These highly organized criminal networks have specialized in this type of fraud for years. Operation Calypso sends them a clear message: safe havens no longer exist.”
She stressed the need for systematic cooperation with police, customs, and tax authorities across all member states.
A Message to US, China – and Greece
The operation carries wider geopolitical significance:
- It comes as the US pressures Europe to toughen its stance on China over Russian oil purchases.
- It confirms the independence and effectiveness of EPPO, which is also investigating cases involving the Greek government.
- It exposes the ineffectiveness of Greek authorities – coast guard, financial police, customs, and judiciary – raising suspicions of deep-rooted corruption.
Goods Worth €250 Million
The seized cargo is valued at approximately €250 million. Among them, 500 containers of e-bikes alone represent a budget loss of €25 million in customs duties and €12.5 million in VAT.
Preliminary analysis shows that criminal organizations declared only 10–15% of the imported products.