Key figures in EU customs fraud probe under attack from thugs

[AP]

Two violent attacks connected a customs authoritative and a customs broker person confirmed warnings by European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kοvesi astir organized transgression networks operating astatine Greece’s biggest port.

Following a June constabulary raid where officers seized €5 cardinal successful currency and detained 8 radical for customs fraud, assailants person targeted cardinal figures successful the investigation. A customs broker had his fingers crushed with a hammer by three masked attackers successful October. Police sources suggest helium “broke an statement with Chinese leaders of the network.” In August, a 40-year-old customs manager liable for instrumentality inspections was beaten extracurricular his Ilion location by an unknown motorcyclist. The victim had testified astir inspection irregularities, exposing colleagues who allegedly checked containers without opening boxes.

The transgression web reportedly declared containers from China held αυτοκίνητο parts alternatively than electrical bicycles to wage little customs duties, defrauding EU coffers. Kovesi had warned the cognition progressive “even decease contracts.”