Organized criminal group for processing and distribution of excise goods without excise labels uncovered

Officers of the Romanian General Directorate of Border Police uncovered an organized criminal group for processing and distribution of excise goods without excise labels

A specialized operation was conducted by officers of the Department for Combating Smuggling and Crime at the State Border in the General Directorate of Border Police, Dragoman and GPU – Gotse Delchev to stop the activities of an organized criminal group, which was engaged in cutting, packing and selling tobacco without paid excise duty. The operation was carried out under the direction of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office.

In the course of the investigation, the border police searched the homes and cars used by the participants in Sofia, Plovdiv, Parvomay, Gotse Delchev and the village of Ablanitsa. Nearly 100 kg of cut tobacco, ready for sale, 280 kg of tobacco leaf pulp, two cutting machines, electronic scales, notebooks with customer lists were seized.

According to the evidence gathered so far, the group has been operating since August 2019. It had a network of regular customers to whom it delivered the desired quantities by courier or by car to addresses. The three accused of participating in the criminal association were detained just before the next delivery. In the trunk of the car used by them for this purpose, 30 kg of cut and packaged tobacco were found and seized.

Pre-trial proceedings have been instituted in RDGP – Airports. The specialized prosecutor’s office prosecuted three people for participating in an organized criminal group.