In Sarajevo and Žepče, textiles and tobacco products worth an estimated 200,000 KM seized

(Patria) - Authorized officials of the Indirect Taxation Authority from the Sarajevo Regional Center seized excise and textile goods with an estimated market value of around 200,000 KM this week. In the area of the municipalities of Kakanj, Ilijaš, and Novi Grad Sarajevo, they checked three business entities where they found foreign-origin textile goods in the sales and storage premises of the checked entities for which the owners did not possess documentation of origin. The market value of the seized goods amounted to approximately 80,000.00 KM. The goods were seized, and appropriate legal proceedings will be initiated against their owners by the Department for Enforcement of Regulations before the competent court.

In another operation, the value of the seized goods, namely tobacco and cigarettes, is estimated at around 120,000 KM with associated duties. Namely, authorized officials of the UIO, with the assistance of police officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, PS Žepče, acting on an order from the BiH Court, and in connection with the illegal storage and trade of excise products by a natural person, searched vehicles, family houses, and accompanying facilities in the locality of the municipality of Žepče. During the search, a certain quantity of finely cut tobacco and cigarettes was found in the facilities and vehicle, which were not marked with UIO excise stamps as prescribed by Article 25 of the Law on Excise Duties in BiH and without credible documentation of origin and procurement.

As the elements of the criminal offense under Article 210a “Illegal trade in excise products” and Article 210b “Illegal storage of goods” of the Criminal Code of BiH were met in this specific case, the authorized officials of the UIO seized the aforementioned excise goods, and a report on the committed criminal offense will be filed with the BiH Prosecutor's Office against the suspect.

The Indirect Taxation Authority invites all citizens to report any form of illegal trade, tax evasion, or customs evasion to the UIO's open line at 080 02 06 07. All calls are free and completely anonymous.