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Tobacco products detained in boilers disguised as toner cartridges Photos: Customs Agency
Nearly a quarter of a million cigarettes and more than 42kg of smoking tobacco, hidden in kettles and packaged like toner cartridges, were detained by customs officials in July and August during inspections of shipments bound for the UK. This was announced by the Customs Agency.
75,600 pieces (3390 boxes) of cigarettes, as well as more than 42 kg of tobacco, with Bulgarian excise labels, were found in the period 07-10.07.2020 during shipment inspections in Sofia. According to the shipping documents, the packages contained water heaters.
In the course of the inspections, customs officials from DG MRR – Aviation Control found that the boilers were emptied of their internals and the empty casings were full of trademarked tobacco products. 75,600 pieces (3,390 boxes) were found in a total of five shipments, as well as 1,064 40-gram packages of smoking tobacco and a total weight greater than 42.5 kg. The discovered tobacco products were covered with Bulgarian excise labels.
In the period 12 – 18.05.2020, other similar shipments destined for Great Britain and containing nine 50-liter boilers were stopped. After a physical check by customs officials from the territorial department of the Ministry of Regional Development – Danube, a total of 152,000 cigarettes with Bulgarian excise labels were seized, but without the documents required by the Law on Administrative Offenses.
In July and August, customs officials from the Air Control Sector of the Home Office of the Customs Agency also found two shipments bound for the UK, in which cigarettes were hidden in individual toner cartridge packs.
In both cases, a total of 16,180 pieces (809 boxes) of cigarettes with special Bulgarian labels were found. The bills of lading described that the shipments contained toner with a declared value close to the actual one, and individual packages were marked with a well-known brand of copier inks.
The total amount of tobacco products seized during the inspections was 243,780 pieces, as well as 42,560 kg of smoking tobacco in 16 shipments with boiler and two with toner.
In cases where administrative criminal proceedings have been initiated for violations of art. 112th of the Law on Special Taxes and Tax Deposits.
The penalties provided are a fine for individuals of BGN 1,000 to 4,000, and for legal persons and sole traders the property penalty is BGN 2,000 to 6,000 for the first offense.
Such attempts to smuggle tobacco products are dictated by the difference in sales prices between Bulgaria and the UK, the Customs Agency commented, adding that cigarettes and tobacco, labeled with Bulgarian excise duties, are destined for consumption in the local market and are not allowed. its shipment as packages abroad, and in the luggage of passengers, its transport is severely limited to certain limits (40 boxes for travelers to other EU countries) for personal consumption.
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