BIO UIO: 148 kg of tobacco and 1,080 packs of cigarettes seized

Authorized officers of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH at the Hum border crossing temporarily seized 1,080 packs of cigarettes of the brand „B&B“, which were attempted to be smuggled into the customs territory of BiH, the UIO BiH announced, as reported by the BiH news agency Patria.

- In a bus traveling on the Herceg Novi – Pale route, at the Hum border crossing, UIO officers from the Group for Suppression of Smuggling and Offenses of the Sarajevo Regional Center found foreign-origin goods in the amount of 1,080 packs of cigarettes of the brand „B&B“, which were not marked with BiH excise stamps, and the goods were not declared to customs authorities upon entry into the customs territory of BiH.

As part of the operational action „TOBACCO 14“ at several markets in Sarajevo and East Sarajevo, UIO officers temporarily seized 148 kilograms of cut tobacco for rolling and smoking, which was being sold illegally.

Within the framework of the Operational activity „TOBACCO 14“, officers of the Group for Suppression of Smuggling and Offenses from the UIO regional centers in Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar conducted inspections in the wider area of the city of Sarajevo, aimed at detecting irregularities related to the trade of tobacco and tobacco products.

- On that occasion, 26.5 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized from three individuals at the Ilidža City Market. At the Ciglane City Market, 5 individuals were inspected and 48.5 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized. Assistance was provided by police officers from the PS Centar Sarajevo. At the Stup Market in Sarajevo, 3 individuals were inspected and 58 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized. Assistance was provided by police officers from the PS Ilidža. At the market in Lukavica, East Sarajevo, 2 individuals were inspected, and 10 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized, while at the Otoka City Market in Sarajevo, one individual was inspected and 5 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized. Assistance was provided by police officers from the PS Novi Grad Sarajevo - the announcement stated.

During the implementation of the Operational activity „TOBACCO 14“, a total of 14 individuals were inspected, from whom 148 kg of cut tobacco was temporarily seized, which had been placed on the market without any documentation and was not marked with BiH excise stamps. Against the individuals who illegally placed the said tobacco products on the market, requests for initiating misdemeanor proceedings were submitted to the competent Court, in accordance with the Law on Excises in BiH.