Customs inspectors at Greece’s Kastanies border crossing in Evros have seized €1,192,000 in undeclared cash, one of the largest such confiscations in recent years, officials said Friday.
The money was discovered during a routine vehicle inspection at the northeastern land border with Turkey. Inspectors from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) found the cash concealed on three Greek women using hidden body belts, a smuggling tactic known as the “ant method” — transporting smaller sums repeatedly to avoid detection.
The seized cash is now under investigation by the Authority for Combating Money Laundering, which will determine if the funds are linked to any illegal activity.
If no criminal ties are found, the AADE will withhold 25% of the total amount as an administrative penalty and return the remaining 75% to the individuals involved, in accordance with current law.
This seizure is the second-largest cash confiscation ever recorded by Greek customs, following the €2.28 million found in August 2016 at Athens International Airport.