European prosecutor Laura Codruta Kövesi tackles corruption and a massive Chinese smuggling ring affecting the EU.
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Laura Codruta Kövesi, who transitioned from being Romania’s anti-corruption chief to the European Chief Prosecutor, addressed criticism regarding corruption in Greece while tackling a massive Chinese smuggling network that affected the entire EU. During a recent raid at the port of Athens, goods worth 250 million euros were seized, including electronics, textiles, and shoes smuggled into the Union by bypassing customs regulations. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office charged eight individuals, identified as Chinese nationals in the Calypso investigation, with tax fraud, money laundering, and corruption related to electric bicycles brought into Europe via Piraeus port. The estimated total damage from this eight-year operation reaches 350 million euros in unpaid duties and 400 million euros in unpaid VAT. Kövesi warned that the sophisticated criminal network required a strong message to the EU, stating that the era of smuggling has ended. She requested guarantees from the Greek government to support anti-Chinese smuggling investigations, increase investigative personnel, and amend the constitution to allow for accountability among government members in similar misconduct cases. Kövesi emphasized the importance of international cooperation, citing the success of the Calypso operation due to the participation of various EU member state investigative bodies.
