Latvia, Markets and Companies, Transport

SRS communications department informed LETA that altogether 87.9 million smuggled cigarettes have been confiscated in the past three years time.

As reported, in Latgale Province on July 24 SRS halted a truck, which, according to the related documents, was supposed to be carrying construction materials. The inspection found 10.2 million contraband cigarettes inside the truck

SRS point out that it is already the second large contraband cigarette haul in a weeks time. Customs Criminal Board found 9.4 million contraband cigarettes in a footwear container from China on July 21, a criminal procedure has been started.

SRS Customs Criminal Board Deputy Chairman Eriks Zalenieks informed LETA that the two cigarette smuggling cases uncovered this week are not interrelated and that different methods had been used in each case.

As reported, one of the most significant cigarette smuggling cases this year was uncovered in mid-March, when SRS found 7.8 million smuggled cigarettes in a warehouse in Bauska District.

SRS Customs criminal board has launched 15 criminal procedures against the cigarette smugglers, nine criminal procedures have been submitted to start prosecution.