site.btaNearly 50,000 Contraband Cigarettes Seized at Plovdiv Airport

Nearly 50,000 contraband cigarettes were found by customs officers at Plovdiv Airport during an inspection of the personal luggage of a Bulgarian passenger departing for the UK, the Customs Agency said in a press release on Thursday. 

The Customs officers carried out a thorough check, including an X-ray, of the Bulgarian's checked-in bags. Two tea machines, placed in each of bags, were found to contain cigarettes. A total of 49,360 cigarettes (2,468 packs), all with Bulgarian excise duty, were removed from the stash. The cigarettes and the tea machines were seized. The offender was issued with a statement of violation under the Customs Act for attempting to carry excise goods - cigarettes - across the state border without the knowledge and permission of the customs authorities. 

The Customs Agency recalls that passengers using air transport can take out of the country up to 40 packs of cigarettes with a Bulgarian band if they are travelling to another EU Member State and up to 10 packs if they are travelling to a third country. Passengers should also acquaint themselves with the rules in the host country, where limits may be more restrictive. Offenders are liable to a fine of BGN 1,000 to BGN 4,000 if travelling to another EU Member State and a fine of 200 to 250% of the cigarettes' market price if travelling to a third country. The fines are higher for a second offence, BGN 3,000 to BGN 6,000.