Textiles and tobacco products worth BAM 200,000 seized in Sarajevo and Žepče

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

In another operation, the value of the seized goods, namely tobacco and cigarettes, is estimated at around BAM 120,000 with associated duties. Namely, authorized officials of the ITA, with the assistance of police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, PS Žepče, acting on the order of the Court of BiH, and in relation to 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. On that occasion, a certain quantity of fine-cut tobacco and cigarettes was found in the facilities and vehicle, which were not marked with ITA 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, authorized officials of the ITA seized the aforementioned excise goods, and a report on the committed criminal offense will be filed against the suspect with the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

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