Customs officers at the "Kapitan Andreevo" border crossing checkpoint have seized contraband tobacco products worth 80,650 euros during a vehicle inspection. A total of 20,000 packs of cigarettes with foreign excise stamps were discovered inside 40 cartons of disposable plastic boxes. This information was provided by the press center of the Customs Agency in Svilengrad.

The incident occurred on September 16 around 19:15, when a tractor unit with a semi-trailer bearing Turkish registration arrived at the border crossing. The driver, a Turkish citizen, declared that he was transporting disposable plastic boxes from Turkey to France. After the vehicle was selected for a detailed customs inspection following a risk analysis, X-ray equipment revealed unusual densities within the cargo compartment. This led to a physical inspection, during which the illegal goods were discovered.

The cigarettes and the vehicle used for transport are currently being held. An investigating customs inspector has initiated pre-trial proceedings in the case under the supervision of the District Prosecutor's Office – Haskovo.

This is not the only such case at the "Kapitan Andreevo" border crossing in recent weeks. During a previous joint operation by police and customs officers against the illegal trafficking of excise goods and commercial smuggling in late August, the following items were seized:

  • 9020 short cigarettes without excise stamps;
  • 120 bottles of shampoo;
  • 150 kilograms of dairy products;
  • 85 kilograms of meat products;
  • 311 items bearing the logos and names of protected trademarks.