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The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) uncovered the shipment during routine inspections of commercial freight aimed at detecting illegal cargo and protecting public safety.<\/p>\n
X-ray scan exposes suspicious shipment<\/strong><\/p>\n According to AADE, customs officers from the Anti-Smuggling Department of Thessaloniki\u2019s First Import-Export Customs Office identified the suspicious container during their inspections.<\/p>\n The container had arrived from a port in China, with a company in Bulgaria listed as the final recipient. Its accompanying documents described the cargo as \u201csunglasses and beads\u201d.<\/p>\n Officers scanned the container using a mobile X-ray system and detected suspicious areas inside. They then conducted a full physical inspection, uncovering 24 cardboard boxes containing a total of 3,081 weapons and related items.<\/p>\n Weapons seized at Thessaloniki port<\/p>\n The seizure included various bladed weapons and other items covered by Greek weapons legislation.<\/p>\n Customs officers confiscated:<\/strong><\/p>\n Authorities seized the items after consulting the public prosecutor responsible for criminal prosecutions and obtaining her approval.<\/p>\n AADE continues freight inspections<\/strong><\/p>\n AADE said it continues to intensify targeted inspections of commercial freight to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain and prevent the trafficking of illegal goods.<\/p>\n The case highlights the role of customs inspections in identifying shipments whose declared contents differ from their actual cargo. It also demonstrates how X-ray technology can help authorities detect suspicious consignments and uncover potentially illegal imports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n