Human Trafficking

30,000 packs of cigarettes discovered on the border with Ukraine

The border policemen from the Territorial Inspectorate of the Sighetu Marmației Border Police discovered and confiscated at the “green border” and on communications 29,600 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin, totaling 346,600 lei, goods that were to reach the black market. from the area. Some of the cigarettes were brought from Ukraine with the help of a small aircraft, possibly a drone.

Around 08.00, the border police officers from the Territorial Service of the Suceava Border Police carried out the regulatory signals for stopping the control, within Marginea locality, Suceava county, of a Mercedes minibus.

Upon observing the Border Police patrol, the driver started in a whirlwind, which is why he started to chase the means of transport. After a few hundred meters, our colleagues discovered the abandoned minibus, and inside it could be seen several packages containing cigarettes. Following the inventory of the boxes discovered in the means of transport, the quantity of 22,100 packs of cigarettes , of Ukrainian origin, amounting to 258,600 lei, resulted.

In this case, investigations are being carried out under the aspect of committing the crime of smuggling, and the entire quantity of cigarettes was seized for confiscation.

Also, the car used to transport cigarettes, worth 7,000 lei, was made unavailable at the Border Police headquarters, and further checks are made to document the entire criminal activity, as well as to detain all persons involved.

Also yesterday, May 2, at the level of the Valea Vişeului Border Police Sector, Maramureș County, an action was launched to combat cigarette smuggling in the area of ​​responsibility.

Thus, around 09.00, the border policemen noticed near the state border, in the direction of Valea Vişeului, several people transporting large parcels from Ukraine to Romania, through the water of the Tisza River.

The border guards acted to detain the people, at which point they abandoned the packages and jumped into the water of the Tisza River, returning to Ukrainian territory.

The Ukrainian authorities were immediately notified of the case for joint investigation of the border incident. Five packs of cigarettes were found on the spot, which were transported to the sector’s headquarters, where, following the inventory, the quantity of 4,250 packs of cigarettes , of Ukrainian origin , resulted .

The cigarettes, worth about 50,000 lei, were seized for confiscation, and in this case investigations are being carried out in terms of committing the crimes of smuggling and fraudulent crossing of the state border, at the end of which the necessary legal measures will be taken.

Also, the Ukrainian authorities informed the Romanian border police that they also discovered 18 packages of cigarettes in the same direction, being part of the same group.

Also at the end of this week, the border guards from the Siret Border Police Sector noticed, in the direction of Climăuți, a noise produced by a small aircraft, specific to a drone, which crossed the border from Ukraine to Romania.

Immediately, the route of the aircraft was monitored and the area was investigated, and two packages of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin were discovered in the border area. As soon as possible, the measure was taken to inform the Ukrainian authorities about the event, in order to jointly investigate the case.

Following the inventory of the packages, the quantity of 1,250 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin, amounting to approximately 14,600 lei, resulted, which were seized for confiscation.

In this case, the border police officers are investigating the aspect of committing the crime of smuggling , as well as to detect the persons involved in the criminal activity, and in the end the necessary legal measures will be taken.

The border policemen from the PF Sighetu Marmației Sector also discovered near the state border, in the direction of Lunca la Tisa locality, Maramureș county, four boxes of cigarettes that were transported to the institution’s headquarters.

Following the verification of the boxes, it was found that they contain 2,000 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin, worth approximately 23,400 lei, goods that were to arrive on the black market in the area.

In this case, too, the border guards are conducting investigations into the crime of smuggling , as well as to identify and prosecute those involved.