A large quantity of cigarettes without excise stamps was discovered during a regular control of cars in the area of Tuzla, it was announced today from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton.
Cigarettes were found during a regular inspection of a “Mercedes” car in which were a woman and a man with the same initials, A.K. from Zenica.
Through a detailed check, the police found 3,800 packets for which these persons did not have any documentation.
In January last year, in an operation codenamed “Scooter 2”, about 4 tons of tobacco have been seized, along with the machines and tools used for tobacco production, as well as a larger quantity of cigarettes without excise stamps and a larger amount of money in foreign currencies. Due to the commission of the said criminal offences, the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been damaged by tens of thousands of BAM.
On an order of a Prosecutor from the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption, an action was carried out in the areas of Foča and Bijeljina, aimed at several suspects who are subject to investigation as an organized criminal group engaged in illicit trade in excise products.
The unlawful sale of cigarettes and tobacco products illegally distributed on the black market in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused great damage to the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to tax and excise evasion, and the suspects acquired great material gain through the commission of these criminal offences.
These activities are a result of several months of thorough investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with SIPA, and the aforementioned persons are under investigation for the criminal offense of Organized Crime, referred to in Article 250 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in conjunction with the criminal offense of Illicit Trade in Excise Products, referred to in Article 210a of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Members of the Administration for Indirect Taxation – Regional Center Tuzla were informed about the event, who will continue further work within their jurisdiction in connection with this case.
