site.bta21,950,000 Cigarettes without Excise Revenue Stamps Found, Impounded in International Police Operation

21,950,000 Cigarettes without Excise Revenue Stamps Found, Impounded in International Police Operation

Sofia, March 30 (BTA) - A total of 21,950,000 cigarettes without excise revenue stamps have been found and impounded in an international police operation which started back in 2015, the Interior Ministry said in a press release Thursday.

The operation cracked down on an international organized criminal group involved in contraband trade in tobacco.

The international investigation into illegal trade in cigarettes on the territory of entire Europe started in 2015. Intensive exchange of information took place between the competent services in Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and Britain.

A tank lorry with Bulgarian number plates and its Bulgarian driver were detained in Romania on March 2. A total of 3.2 million cigarettes without excise revenue stamps were found hidden in an expressly designed secret compartment of the lorry.

Another lorry was detained on June 23, 2016 where 5.1 million cigarettes were found hidden in sealed paper rolls. An European arrest warrant was issued for the driver of the lorry who was tracked down and detained in Bulgaria.

A police raid on November 18, 2016 in Bulgaria uncovered 9.36 million cigarettes without excise revenue stamps. Eight persons were detained. Charges for participation in an organized criminal group involved in contraband of cigarettes were pressed against seven of the detainees.

Meanwhile, several operations were conducted in Spain. A haul of 1 million cigarettes was found on June 4, 2016, in a vehicle driven by a Bulgarian national who was part of the international criminal group.

The final stage of the operation took place on March 28, 2017 in Spain with the arrest of 28 people involved in the criminal group and the discovery of 2.41 million cigarettes without excise revenue stamps.