Cigarettes capture at the border

Romanian Border Police officers within Caras Severin Border Police County Inspectorate detected a Romanian citizen carrying 7,000 packages of smuggled cigarettes.

On 25.10.2011, starting with 14.00 hours, based on data and information of Naidas Border Police Sector, Border Police officers initiated a specific action in the filed of countering cigarettes smuggling.

At about 18.45 hours, with the help of video surveillance system was detected a mean of transportation close to border line, its presence there not being justified.

The Border Police patrol within that area was informed and at about 200 meters away from Rusova Noua, the vehicle was intercepted on an agricultural road.

The Ford Mondeo vehicle was inspected. Due to the fact that inside were detected several big boxes, an operational team was requested, finding inside a big number of packages of cigarettes: 4,500 packages of FAST cigarettes, Serbian made and 2,500 packages of MARBLE cigarettes, with no stamps.

Prior acts of criminal investigation in terms of the offense of smuggling and fiscal evasion were drawn by Border Police officers.

The amount of cigarettes, valuing about 70,000 LEI, was seized by Border Police officers.

The Ford Mondeo vehicle, valuing about 12,000 LEI, was seized also on the premises of Caras Severin Border Police County Inspectorate up to the finalization of the investigations.

Smuggling network stopped at Botosani

Following an informative-operational activity, carried out for a period of four months, D.I.I.C.O.T. prosecutor - Botosani Territorial Bureau, in cooperation with officers within Botosani Border Police County Inspectorate, technically and operationally supported by officers within D.G.I.P.I. and by Botosani National Police County Inspectorate, Botosani Countering Organized Crime Service and Botosani Gendarmerie County Inspectorate initiated on 25.10.2011 an action in order to catch into act a criminal network specialized in Moldavian cigarettes smuggling, acting in Botosani County.

Out of the information gathered by D.G.I.P.I. and Border Police officers, resulted that the criminal group consists of Moldovans and Romanians with well determined roles within the group receiving the cigarettes, surveying the roads, transporting, storage and selling of the goods, in order to get benefits out of it.

On the occasion of this action, from close to Prut River, border area and following the 28 house searches, 10.500 packages of cigarettes, money, two vehicles and different goods, part of the criminal activity, were seized.

The house searches were also in regards to two Border Police officers within Romanesti Border Police Sector.

The investigations are ongoing, under the leadership of D.I.I.C.O.T. prosecutor together with officers within Botosani Border Police County Inspectorate.