## GREECE: Smuggling of Illegal Goods

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [GREECE: Smuggling of Illegal Goods](https://www.imf.org/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports/greece-smuggling-of-illegal-goods)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports/greece-smuggling-of-illegal-goods/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports/greece-smuggling-of-illegal-goods/index.json)
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### Introduction and coverage
- Data cover undeclared imports of the economy, split into two sub-categories:
  - (a) Smuggling of cigarettes, alcohol beverages, hemp and other synthetic drugs (such as cocaine, LSD, amphetamines, ecstasy etc.).
  - (b) Smuggling of other products not included in category (a), including tobacco, clothes and wearing apparel and other low-value manufactured products.

### Sources
- 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.

### Compilation method — overview
- 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.

### Smuggling of Cigarettes — compilation steps
- 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.

### Smuggling of Alcohol Beverages — compilation steps
- 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.

### Smuggling of Drugs — compilation steps
- 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.

### Smuggling of Other Products — estimation
- 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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## References

- [Informal Economy Reports](https://www.imf.org/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/data/statistics/informal-economy-data/reports/greece-smuggling-of-illegal-goods_