Romanian customs officers stopped a Mercedes bus, which had earlier crossed the border through the Cahul-Oancea customs point on its way from Moldova, near the Oancea customs point.
The documents submitted to the customs authorities declared only unaccompanied parcels, without any excisable goods.
As a result of an inspection carried out by the Romanian authorities in the cargo compartment of the vehicle, 186,400 cigarettes of various brands and 229.75 liters of alcoholic beverages, all of which had not been declared by the customs authorities, were found and seized among the parcels destined for a number of European Union countries, in particular Italy.
In this connection, Moldovan law enforcement officers conducted 10 searches in Chisinau and other localities in the country as part of a criminal case aimed at suppressing the smuggling of excisable goods destined for the European Union market.
On the basis of the information received and subsequent special investigative measures, law enforcement officers identified several persons involved in the criminal scheme.
During the searches, cell phones, undocumented consumer goods, the origin of which is yet to be established, and the bus used to commit the crime were seized.
Six people aged between 32 and 45 are currently wanted.
The investigation is continuing with the aim of identifying all participants and fully documenting the criminal activity.
