3,000 packs of contraband cigarettes found in truck's spare tire
Customs officers at Bulgaria's Lesovo border crossing, located opposite Turkey's Hamzabeyli border gate, discovered 3,310 packs of contraband cigarettes during two separate inspections of trucks.
İHA
In one of the trucks traveling from Turkey to Romania via Bulgaria, the cigarettes were found in the truck's spare tires, while in the other, they were hidden in plastic dividers used for transporting goods.
A cargo vehicle driven by a Romanian citizen traveling from Turkey to Romania arrived at the Lesovo road border crossing to enter the country. During the customs inspection, which included the use of specialized X-ray equipment, inspectors detected an unusual density in the spare tires. After they were dismantled, 1,200 packs of cigarettes were found inside, and it was determined that 1,000 more packs were hidden under spare parts in the trailer's storage boxes.
A total of 1,210 packs of contraband cigarettes without Bulgarian excise tax stamps were seized. In another inspection conducted at the Lesovo border police station, 2,100 packs of contraband cigarettes were seized in a truck also traveling from Turkey to Romania and driven by a Romanian citizen.
The Central Customs Administration dispatched a mobile team for a detailed inspection. During the checks performed by customs officers, 2,100 packs of contraband cigarettes were discovered hidden inside three plastic dividers used for transporting goods located at the rear of the cargo section.
While the illicit tobacco products were confiscated, administrative violation cases were opened against the two truck drivers, and administrative penal proceedings were initiated.