A plan to sell over 2 million tons of goat and lamb meat from Romania as Greek, after using tippex to disguise its place of origin, was foiled by authorities yesterday.

An inspection squad from Piraeus prefecture, acting on a tip-off, raided the nearby Rendi meat market and seized some 300 carcasses which had their original ink stamps, identifying them as Romanian, covered over with white-out and blue Greek state stamps put in their place.

Officials said that the amateurish switch had taken place in the back of a refrigerated truck while the meat was being transferred from Corinth. Authorities were yesterday looking for representatives of the company which bought the meat. Government and local officials have stepped up their inspections on meat markets and butcher shops in the buildup to the Orthodox Easter, when lambs and goats are traditionally roasted.