Police crack open cross-border moonshine ring

The police’s financial crime squad is unraveling a ring that imported and processed contraband alcohol from Bulgaria for distribution to bars, liquor stores and minimarkets in Greece.

Thirteen members of the gang have been arrested while authorities are looking for another 39.

In raids across Athens, police have located 33,000 of bottled spirits, more than 2,600 bottles of tsipouro and ouzo, 11 barrels of tsipouro, 13 vats of ethanol and thousands of well-known brand labels.

A file has been opened against those arrested for running a criminal organization and a string of other legal violations.

According to the investigation, the ring was divided into two core parts. One group was active in purchasing the moonshine in Bulgaria, loading it onto transport trucks destined for Greece and bribing Bulgarian customs officials. The merchandise on the trucks was listed as wood and household appliances.

The other group was responsible for supplying the Greek market and changing the bottle labels.