Greek tax authorities have discovered an outfit illegally extracting and selling valuable corals abroad, whose value is estimated at €800,000.
Using risk analysis tools and targeted inspections, inspectors from the Independent Authority for Public Revenues (AADE) were able to track down the criminal ring which used a leisure craft anchored off the island of Skopelos, as a cover and the base for the illegal harvesting of corals.
Sources from AADE’s General Directorate for the Control of Economic Transactions (GD DEOS), said the case was cracked by using risk analysis tools and targeted inspections that narrowed down the search to a specific transportation company.
Inspectors found a series of suspect deliveries of goods, accompanied by vague product descriptions, which led to the specific vessel, which had been leased by Italians for leisure purposes but was linked to frequent and repeated dispatches via the transportation firm, chiefly to ports in Italy.
During the inspection of the vessel, authorities found quantities of corals protected under European legislation for the marine environment and the Natura 2000 framework, diving equipment, tools for cutting corals and makeshift storage facilities indicating this was an organized and repeated activity.
