Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) uncovered a criminal organization with 250 members that appeared to be responsible for 380 businesses, including a well-known fast-food chain.
The gang was busy in food businesses and the trade of computers and other electronic devices.
The ringleaders of the gang are 10 Greeks and one Albanian national , who were arrested by AADE inspectors after a coordinated operation at their homes, conducted from the early hours of Thursday morning until noon.
The auditors tracked them down using the results of investigations carried out by a special algorithm used by the AADE to monitor transactions and the overall tax behavior of these companies.
The algorithm used by AADE identified 317 companies that had accumulated debts of 27 million euros to the AADE and 16 million euros to the e-National Social Security Fund (EFKA) and that “ disappeared” when an audit was conducted, with another company bearing a different tax identification number appearing in their place.
During raids in their homes were found and seized:
- 100,000 euros in cash
- 110 bank withdrawal cards, which belonged to natural persons (straw-men and fabricated persons)
- Numerous documents with the details of the straw-men and shell companies
- 110 stamps, which belonged to various companies
- POS devices
- Hard drives
- 4 Laptops
- 1 tablet
- 3 desktops
- Prepaid phones
- A banknote counter.
According to the AADE announcement, those arrested are being taken to the Attica General Police Directorate.
The name of the well-known fast-food chain has not been disclosed.
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