Crete bar owner arrested for selling illicit alcohol and nitrous oxide

Greek authorities have arrested a 53-year-old man in Heraklion, Crete, for illegally possessing and distributing alcoholic beverages. The arrest followed a coordinated operation by the Organized Crime Fighting Department of Crete and the Special Economic Inspection Unit of Attica.

During the operation, authorities seized a significant quantity of illicit goods. This included 284 packages containing 1,003 liters of alcoholic liquid and 129 metal canisters of nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas." Police estimate that the seized nitrous oxide could have been used to produce approximately 30,000 balloons for public distribution.

The investigation centers on the owner of a hospitality establishment who allegedly traded and distributed non-compliant alcoholic drinks. A 46-year-old manager and representative of a beverage production company based in Attica is also implicated. A search of a storage area at the establishment uncovered numerous packages of alcoholic beverages lacking proper tax documentation and labels, alongside the nitrous oxide canisters.

Among the confiscated items were various plastic bottles containing unknown alcoholic liquids, some labeled with an alcohol content of 38% and 40%. Authorities confirmed that the necessary legal documents and tax payments were missing for these quantities. Additionally, 126 packages bore labels from a specific beverage company in Attica. The seized drinks have been sent to the relevant Customs Authority for further examination of tax evasion, with an ongoing assessment of the amount of unpaid duties and taxes.