Customs seize more than 600,000 smuggled cigarettes at Kulata border crossing

Two cases of cigarette smuggling have been identified by customs officers in the area of Kulata r checkpoint (border with Greece). Some 30,950 boxes or 619,000 pieces of illegal cigarettes were seized. Pre-trial proceedings were initiated and finaslised, the Customs Agency said on 6^th of March.

On February 18, at Kulata border crossing, two buses travelling on regular services from Greece to Bulgaria were inspected. The customs officers found 3,990 packets (79 800 pieces of cigarettes) without excise label in the baggage of passenger travelling on the first bus. In a second check, in the baggage of another passenger from the second bus, 2,000 packets (40,000 cigarettes without excise label were found. The total amount of cigarettes without tax stamp found in the two buses was 5,990 packets or 119, 800 pieces of cigarettes.

Four people - perpetrators and assisting persons - were charged.

499,200 cigarettes (24,960 packets) without a Bulgarian excise label were detained by customs officers a week earlier during a check of a car transporter at Kulata border crossing at enrty into the country from Greece. The car transporter was carrying ten second-hand cars. The check identified a total of 24,960 packets of illicit cigarettes of different brands.