Combating Smuggling: 200 Kilograms of Tobacco Seized

Officials of the Indirect Taxation Authority, in cooperation with police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, temporarily seized 200 kg of tobacco with a market value of 24,000 KM in the area of the municipality of Olovo, the Patria News Agency reports.  

During a regular traffic control, a larger quantity of tobacco, which was not marked with excise stamps in the legally prescribed manner, was discovered in a passenger motor vehicle carrying two individuals.

The operation was carried out by joint forces of authorized officials of the ITA from the Tuzla regional center and police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Olovo police station.

Due to suspicion that there are sufficient elements for the commission of the criminal offense of illegal trade in excise products under Article 210a of the Criminal Code of BiH, officials of the Team for Prevention of Smuggling and Offenses informed the duty prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office and the Judge for Preliminary Proceedings of the BiH Court, based on whose verbal order, and for the purpose of obtaining evidence, they searched the passenger motor vehicle in which the goods in question were located.

Following the search of the vehicle, a larger quantity of tobacco products, finely cut smoking tobacco, in the amount of 200 kg, with an estimated market value of 24,000 KM, was found.

Given the value of the goods, and the confirmed suspicion of the commission of the aforementioned criminal offense by the individuals transporting them, the goods in question were temporarily seized, and a report on the committed criminal offense and perpetrator will be filed with the competent BiH Prosecutor's Office against the individuals in whose possession the tobacco was found in the coming period.

Also, in a joint operation of authorized officials of the ITA from the Tuzla regional center and police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, Doboj Public Security Center, Bosanski Šamac Police Station, 22 kg of cut tobacco were seized.

The tobacco was seized due to suspicion of illegal trade in excise products committed by a natural person, who, during a regular traffic control, after being stopped in the area of the municipality of Bosanski Šamac, in the place called Obudovac, was found to be transporting finely cut smoking tobacco in a passenger motor vehicle in the amount of 22 kg, with an estimated market value of 2,640 KM, which was not marked with excise stamps.  

In accordance with the instructions given by the duty prosecutor of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, who was informed about the matter, the goods in question were temporarily seized, and misdemeanor proceedings will be initiated against the perpetrator of this illegality before the competent court, it was announced from the ITA of BiH.