Customs officers have seized more than 5.6 million bootleg cigarettes concealed inside a truck traveling from Turkey to France this week, in the latest blow against transnational tobacco smuggling networks operating through Greece.

The operation was carried out by customs officers at the Kipi border crossing in the extreme northeast province of Thrace following targeted intelligence gathering and data analysis. Inspectors stopped a truck entering Greece from Turkey and discovered 280 boxes of contraband cigarettes hidden inside the vehicle.

According to authorities, the driver used the so-called “plug” concealment method, placing pallets and boxes of legitimate goods — including tiles, plates and coffee cups — at the front and sides of the trailer to mask the illicit cargo stored deeper inside.

A detailed inspection led to the seizure of 5,627,600 cigarettes. Authorities estimated that the smuggling operation sought to evade more than 1.15 million euros in taxes and customs duties. The driver was arrested and remains in custody pending an appearance before a prosecutor.

The seizure comes as Greek authorities intensify efforts against organized smuggling networks following a series of high-profile investigations in recent months. Authorities have increasingly focused on illicit tobacco trafficking routes running through Greece from neighboring countries into European Union markets, while separate investigations have targeted criminal groups allegedly involved in the large-scale production, storage and distribution of counterfeit tobacco products.