{
  "title": "GREECE: Smuggling of Illegal Goods",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports/greece-smuggling-of-illegal-goods",
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  "summary": "Greece: Smuggling of Illegal Goods <br />Informal Economy Reports Core Links Informal Economy Reports IMF Committee on Balance of Payments Statistics <img src=\"-/media/ABF59494375D4EDF8E177E7C37820721.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Introduction and coverage",
      "content": "- Data cover undeclared imports of the economy, split into two sub-categories:\n  - (a) Smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol beverages, hemp and other synthetic drugs (such as cocaine, LSD, amphetamines, ecstasy etc.).\n  - (b) Smuggling of other products not included in category (a), including tobacco, clothes and wearing apparel and other low-value manufactured products."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Sources",
      "content": "- Category (a): Data derived directly from the Illegal Activities part of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as calculated in Annual National Accounts.\n- Category (b): No direct sources available; an estimation method is applied."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Compilation method — overview",
      "content": "- Category (a) (cigarettes, alcohol beverages, hemp and other synthetic drugs): derived from GDP calculations. For the base year 2000 an analytical calculation was made; for subsequent years extrapolation techniques are applied.\n- Category (b) (other products): initially incorporated into GDP figures in 2000 following Eurostat’s recommendations as a stable percentage over GDP; since then extrapolated following the % yoy changes of Extra EU Imports excluding oil petroleum products and ships."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Smuggling of Cigarettes — compilation steps",
      "content": "- Basic input: seized quantities in packets of smuggled cigarettes, per label, provided by the Custom Services of the Ministry of Finance.\n- Imports value calculation: seized quantities × wholesale price per label.\n- Wholesale price definition: retail price minus the share of the special consumption tax.\n- Retail price sources: Union of Tobacco Industries and several private firms."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Smuggling of Alcohol Beverages — compilation steps",
      "content": "- Imports value calculation: adjusted seized quantities per alcohol category (ethyl alcohol and bottles of beverages) × respective wholesale prices.\n- Seized quantities source: Custom Services of the Ministry of Finance.\n- Adjustment applied: Custom Services estimate that the actual smuggled imported quantities are 3,5 times more than the seized ones.\n- Wholesale price source: Union of Alcohol Beverages Enterprises."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Smuggling of Drugs — compilation steps",
      "content": "- General: Coordinating Body of Drugs Prosecution in Greece reports that all drugs, except hemp, are imported.\n- Hemp: Coordinating Body estimates that 30% of the total quantity consumed in Greece is produced domestically and 70% is imported.\n- ELSTAT approach: demand-side calculation where total domestic consumption of each drug type = number of drug users × daily-consumed quantity × price of the drug.\n- Sources for inputs: Coordinating Body of Drugs Prosecution in Greece; Research University Institute for Mental Health; Drugs Section of the General Chemical State Laboratory.\n- Imports value for drugs: total domestic consumption of all drug types except hemp; for hemp, the imports value corresponds to the domestic consumption equal to 70% of total quantity consumed in Greece."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Smuggling of Other Products — estimation",
      "content": "- Initially incorporated into GDP in 2000 as a stable percentage over GDP (per Eurostat recommendations).\n- Time-series updates: extrapolated following the % yoy changes of Extra EU Imports excluding oil petroleum products and ships."
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "Data cover undeclared imports of the economy, split into two sub-categories:",
    "Category (a): Data derived directly from the Illegal Activities part of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as calculated in Annual National Accounts.",
    "Category (b): No direct sources available; an estimation method is applied.",
    "Category (a) (cigarettes, alcohol beverages, hemp and other synthetic drugs): derived from GDP calculations. For the base year 2000 an analytical calculation was made; for subsequent years extrapolation techniques are applied.",
    "Category (b) (other products): initially incorporated into GDP figures in 2000 following Eurostat’s recommendations as a stable percentage over GDP; since then extrapolated following the % yoy changes of Extra EU Imports excluding oil petroleum products and ships.",
    "Basic input: seized quantities in packets of smuggled cigarettes, per label, provided by the Custom Services of the Ministry of Finance.",
    "Imports value calculation: seized quantities × wholesale price per label.",
    "Wholesale price definition: retail price minus the share of the special consumption tax.",
    "Retail price sources: Union of Tobacco Industries and several private firms.",
    "Imports value calculation: adjusted seized quantities per alcohol category (ethyl alcohol and bottles of beverages) × respective wholesale prices.",
    "Seized quantities source: Custom Services of the Ministry of Finance.",
    "Adjustment applied: Custom Services estimate that the actual smuggled imported quantities are 3,5 times more than the seized ones.",
    "Wholesale price source: Union of Alcohol Beverages Enterprises.",
    "General: Coordinating Body of Drugs Prosecution in Greece reports that all drugs, except hemp, are imported.",
    "Hemp: Coordinating Body estimates that 30% of the total quantity consumed in Greece is produced domestically and 70% is imported.",
    "ELSTAT approach: demand-side calculation where total domestic consumption of each drug type = number of drug users × daily-consumed quantity × price of the drug.",
    "Sources for inputs: Coordinating Body of Drugs Prosecution in Greece; Research University Institute for Mental Health; Drugs Section of the General Chemical State Laboratory.",
    "Imports value for drugs: total domestic consumption of all drug types except hemp; for hemp, the imports value corresponds to the domestic consumption equal to 70% of total quantity consumed in Greece.",
    "Initially incorporated into GDP in 2000 as a stable percentage over GDP (per Eurostat recommendations).",
    "Time-series updates: extrapolated following the % yoy changes of Extra EU Imports excluding oil petroleum products and ships."
  ],
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  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-10-02T02:54:24.459Z"
}