The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (Eppo) in Athens ordered the seizure of 2,435 containers in what has been described as the largest container confiscation ever carried out in the European Union. The goods, shipped from China and consisting largely of e-bikes, textiles and footwear, are valued at a minimum of 250 million euros.
The Calypso investigation is centred on criminal networks accused of managing imports from China to several European countries while circumventing duties and VAT. Six individuals are under investigation, including two Greek customs officers and four freight forwarders. The customs officials are accused of issuing false certifications that caused losses of more than 871,000 euros to the EU budget, while the forwarders are charged with repeated fraud and incitement to false declarations. One of them was arrested recently, while four others had already been detained in June.
The seizure, announced on 15 September 2025, was conducted in two stages: the first 500 containers were blocked in June, followed by another 1,935 intercepted after their arrival in Piraeus, bringing the total to 2,435. Inspections of the containers have already confirmed systematic practices of under-invoicing and false declarations, with an estimated impact of 25 million euros in unpaid duties and 12.5 million euros in evaded VAT on e-bikes alone. Investigators believe the scheme was replicated on a monthly basis over several years, leading to estimated overall losses of at least 350 million euros in duties and 450 million euros in VAT.
Following the June operation, Greek authorities report signs of improved compliance: similar goods are now declared at values closer to their actual market price, and in July 2025 Piraeus customs revenue reached 143 million euros, compared with 139.9 million in the same month the previous year. The operation was carried out with the involvement of the Eppo, the Hellenic Police, the Greek tax authority, the European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) and other enforcement agencies.
Olaf in particular had flagged anomalies by analysing trade flows and online sales, estimating losses from evasion at 280 million euros in duties and over 400 million euros in VAT. The investigation remains ongoing, with the containers still under inspection by the Greek customs authorities.
