Smuggling busted in Bogorodica, 5,000 cigarette packs hidden among stone wool

A significant quantity of cigarettes was seized during an operation by customs authorities at the Bogorodica border crossing. During the inspection of a heavy transport vehicle, 5,000 cigarette packs were found, with an estimated value of 9 million denars.

Sources from the Customs Directorate reported that the truck driver, a Serbian citizen, was arrested. He is accused of attempting to import goods illegally, and a criminal complaint has been filed against him with the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Gevgelija on suspicion of the criminal offense of smuggling.

According to official data, the vehicle was declared in transit from Greece to Serbia. Accompanying documentation indicated that the cargo consisted of construction materials, specifically stone wool. However, a thorough inspection revealed the presence of 100 unmarked packages, each containing 50 packs of cigarettes without fiscal stamps, carefully hidden within the pallets of the reported goods.

With the completion of this operation, the customs institution reiterates its continuous commitment to the fight against illegal tobacco trade and to blocking criminal activities that extend beyond national borders.