Greek Customs Seize 3,081 Weapons Hidden in Cargo Container

Greek customs officers have seized 3,081 weapons and related items from a suspicious shipping container at the Port of Thessaloniki after discovering that its declared cargo of sunglasses and beads concealed a large consignment of bladed weapons.

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.

X-ray scan exposes suspicious shipment

According to AADE, customs officers from the Anti-Smuggling Department of Thessaloniki’s First Import-Export Customs Office identified the suspicious container during their inspections.

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 “sunglasses and beads”.

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.

Weapons seized at Thessaloniki port

The seizure included various bladed weapons and other items covered by Greek weapons legislation.

Customs officers confiscated:

• 1,900 daggers
• 470 butterfly knives
• 300 swords with 45-centimetre blades
• 175 swords with 50-centimetre blades
• 120 swords with 42-centimetre blades
• 110 knuckle-dusters
• Six curved karambit knives

Authorities seized the items after consulting the public prosecutor responsible for criminal prosecutions and obtaining her approval.

AADE continues freight inspections

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.

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.