Four Romanian citizens investigated for smuggling 30,000 packs of cigarettes confiscated at northern border

Border police officers from ITPF Sighetu Marmației discovered and confiscated, following some actions and two home searches carried out in the area of ​​competence, approximately 30,000 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin, worth 343,200 lei. Four Romanian citizens are being investigated for smuggling, and a car used in criminal activity has been made unavailable in order to continue the investigations.

Action was launched to combat cigarette smuggling in the area of ​​responsibility and thus, an off-road car, registered in Great Britain, in the yard of a building within the Vicovu de Sus locality, Suceava county, in which several voluminous packages could be observed.

With the consent of the owner, the border guards entered the yard of the building, and following a brief check on the means of transport, it was found that inside it were several packages containing cigarettes of Ukrainian origin.

As a result, the car and the cigarettes were taken to the headquarters of the sector, where, following the inventory, the quantity of 13,000 packages, of Duty-Free origin, amounting to 152,100 lei, resulted .

The entire quantity of cigarettes was confiscated, and the car worth 12,000 lei was made unavailable in order to continue the investigations.

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

Also yesterday, border police officers from the same sector launched another action in the fight against cigarette smuggling.

Thus, around 10.10 pm, our colleagues noticed, near the state border, in the direction of Vicovu de Sus, three people moving inland, carrying bulky parcels in their backs.

Following the action, the border police detained three men, Romanian citizens, aged between 18 and 20, all residing in Suceava County.

As soon as possible, the Ukrainian authorities were informed about the case, in order to jointly investigate the event.

The cigarette packages were transported to the institution’s headquarters, where, following the inventory, the quantity of 2,000 packs of cigarettes resulted , amounting to approximately 23,400 lei.

Subsequently, the border police officers drew up criminal proceedings against the three persons under the aspect of committing aggravated smuggling offenses and fraudulent crossing of the state border.

Also on November 2 this year, starting with 13.00, based on a warrant issued by the Vişeu de Sus Court, workers from the Territorial Service of the Maramureș Border Police together with representatives of the Border Police Sectors Valea Vişeului and Vişeu de Sus performed a search within the border locality Valea Vișeului, Maramureş County.

The search took place in an uninhabited building, where 10,000 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin were discovered in the basement of the house .

The cigarettes, worth 117,000 lei , were seized for confiscation, and in this case investigations are being carried out in terms of committing the crime of smuggling , a deed provided and punished by the Romanian Customs Code.

Further, specific activities are carried out under the coordination of the prosecutor from the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Vişeu de Sus Court, in order to document the entire criminal activity, and in the end the necessary legal measures will be taken.

On November 2, 2020, at the level of the Sighetu Marmației Border Police Sector, two actions were launched to prevent and combat cigarette smuggling, in the area of ​​competence.

Thus, around 06.35, our colleagues noticed, near the state border, in the direction of Lunca la Tisa, Maramureș County, two people moving from the banks of the Tisza River to the interior of the country, carrying large packages behind.

Immediately, the border guards acted to apprehend them, making legal summonses by voice, but the people did not stop, abandoned the packages and jumped into the water of the river Tisza, returning to swim on Ukrainian territory.

Six packages of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin were discovered on the spot, which were transported to the institution’s headquarters, where, following the inventory, the quantity of 2,980 packs of cigarettes , worth over 34,800 lei, resulted .

The Ukrainian authorities have been notified of the case, in order to jointly investigate the incident, and further investigations are underway into the offenses of smuggling and fraudulent crossing of the state border , as well as to detect persons involved in criminal activity and prosecution. theirs.

On the same day, a few hours later, based on a warrant issued by the Sighetu Marmației District Court, workers from the same sector carried out a home search at a location of a Romanian citizen from Sighetu Marmației.

Following the search, 402 packs of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin were discovered , worth 4,700 lei , as well as various smaller quantities of plant substances and seeds, possibly cannabis. During the investigations, it was established that the goods belong to a young man, aged 16, domiciled in Maramureș County, who lives on the respective property.

In this case, investigations are being carried out in terms of committing the crime of smuggling , and the substances and plant seeds were collected for expertise, and in the end the necessary legal measures will be taken.

The border policemen from the Poienile de sub Munte Border Police Sector also launched, on November 1 this year, an action on the fight against cigarette smuggling, in the area of ​​competence.

Thus, our colleagues observed, in the direction of Repedea, in the area of ​​Capu Groși Mountain, at 1,600 meters altitude, several people moving from the border line to the interior of the country, carrying bulky parcels in the back.

Immediately, the border police acted to apprehend them, carrying out legal summonses by voice, but the people did not stop, abandoned the packages and fled to the territory of the neighboring state, for which several warning shots were fired vertically. , according to the legal provisions.

This time too, the people in question did not stop and returned to Ukraine.

As soon as possible, the Ukrainian authorities were informed about the case, in order to jointly investigate the event, which later informed us that they had detained on their territory, in the same direction, three Ukrainian citizens.

On the Romanian side, the border police discovered two packages of cigarettes of Ukrainian origin which, following the inventory, were found to contain 960 packs of cigarettes , worth over 11,200 lei.

Further investigations are being carried out into the offenses of smuggling and fraudulent crossing of the state border , as well as the detection of persons involved in criminal activity and the prosecution of them.