Greek customs seize over 1,000 bottles of illegal refrigerant — 296 found in truck from North Macedonia at Doirani

Greek customs officers from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) intercepted a total of 1,296 bottles of illegal refrigerant during inspections at two border crossings: Doirani on the frontier with North Macedonia and Kipi on the border with Turkey. Authorities estimate the evaded customs duties and taxes at more than €338,000.

Of the seized bottles, 296 were discovered inside a commercial vehicle that had entered Greece from North Macedonia. "In the early morning hours of the same day, at the Doirani border crossing, during an inspection of an empty cargo container from North Macedonia, 296 bottles of illegal refrigerant of type R134a were found in a specially made compartment, for which customs duties and taxes are calculated at €55,000," the AADE said.

Large consignment hidden beneath declared cargo

At the Kipi crossing into Turkey, customs officers found the remaining 1,000 bottles in a truck with Turkish license plates. The shipment was concealed "carefully under the declared load of plasterboard sheets," AADE reported. The 1,000 bottles were of type R404A.

AADE noted that the import of this refrigerant into the European Union is prohibited. "The import of this liquid into the EU is prohibited. The total value of the cargo is €884,400, while the evaded customs and taxes are estimated at €283,538.64," the statement added.

All illegal consignments from both cases were seized and the competent authorities have launched the prescribed legal procedures.

Photo: press material from the event