site.btaInternational Organized Crime Group Involved in Smuggling, Manufacturing, Distributing Unbranded Tobacco Products Neutralized

An international organized crime group involved in smuggling, manufacturing and distributing unbranded tobacco products has been neutralized, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. The actions were carried out by officers of the General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) and the Romanian Border Police, coordinated by European Anti-Fraud Office and the Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC).

The operation was carried out on August 16-17 on the territory of Romania following an investigation into 64 shipments of a total of 330 tonnes of unprocessed tobacco from Bulgaria to Romania since 2022, using false documents. It was found that, after entering Romanian territory, the tobacco, instead of being exported to the Czech Republic as documented, was transported to specially adapted premises where it was processed, cut, packaged and subsequently distributed at retail level throughout the country via e-commerce platforms.

A total of 23 addresses were searched, about 10 tonnes of tobacco, three tobacco processing facilities, two cars, a truck, a van and cash were seized during the operation. Eight members of the organized crime group were remanded in custody. Work on the documentation of the case is ongoing.