Kolonos: Three Foreigners Arrested with Contraband Cigarettes in Dramatic Escape Attempt
Three foreign nationals were arrested in Kolonos for illegally trading tobacco and alcohol in a mini-market, found with hidden contraband and cash, following a police operation on February 18, 2026.
Three foreigners caught in the midst of illegality were arrested for illegal activities at a mini-market in Kolonos. According to MeaCulpa.gr, this operation is linked to the illegal trade of tobacco products and other crimes related to market regulation legislation.
On the afternoon of February 18, 2026, police officers from the Security Team of the Patrol Sub-Directorate of the General Police Directorate of Attica located the store suspected of illegally trading tobacco products. During the operation, three men aged 48, 38, and 20 were arrested and taken to the Crime Investigation and Detection Department of Kolonos for preliminary investigation procedures.
During the search, the following were found carefully hidden in various spots around the store:
- 180 tobacco packages without the indicative excise tax stamp,
- the sum of 22,140 euros,
- 46 alcoholic beverages without purchase documentation.
During the arrest attempt, the three men resisted and tried to escape, pushing the police officers. Subsequently, the arrested individuals were brought before the competent Prosecutor, with the related case file already filed against them.
