Lithuanian customs officers intercepted a large shipment of cigarettes transported from Latvia. The cigarettes are believed to have been produced at illegal tobacco factories.
According to the Lithuanian Customs Service, the truck was stopped near Kryžkalnis on the Vilnius–Klaipėda highway. It was carrying nearly half a million packs of illegal cigarettes.
“The exact quantity and value of the seized cigarettes will be determined later, but according to preliminary data, a total of 19 pallets containing 903 boxes of cigarettes were found in the truck. This amounts to approximately 451,500 packs of cigarettes of various brands (Marlboro Gold, Winston Blue, Minsk Superslims, NZ Gold). Some of the cigarettes bore Belarusian excise stamps, while others had no stamps,” the customs service said.
The shipment is estimated to be worth €2.4 million. A pre-trial investigation has been launched.
The driver has been placed under police supervision and is subject to a travel restriction. He has denied any wrongdoing.
“Last year, Lithuanian customs officers seized nearly 7 million packs of illegal cigarettes during pre-trial investigations, most of them imported from Latvia. Available information confirms that both well-known international tobacco brands and Belarusian cigarettes are being counterfeited in Latvia,” the customs service added.
