Cigarettes hidden in strawberries: Raids in Northern Moldova
Ukrainian authorities intercepted a smuggling attempt involving over seven million cigarettes concealed within a 15-ton shipment of strawberries destined for Romania. Following this, Moldovan law enforcement conducted 14 raids in the northern part of the country.
Law enforcement officials reported that members of a criminal network substituted some of the declared goods with smuggled cigarettes. These cigarettes, which were incorrectly branded from the Republic of Moldova, were actually counterfeit products made in Ukraine and were concealed among 460 boxes of strawberries.
Ukrainian authorities successfully tracked down a shipment and seized the goods as they were leaving Ukraine for the Republic of Moldova. Subsequently, law enforcement officers carried out 14 searches in the northern part of the country.
During these searches, they investigated four individuals aged between 31 and 45 and seized mobile phones, computers, and other evidence pertinent to the criminal case.
Criminal prosecution actions and special investigative measures are ongoing to clarify all the circumstances of the case and identify everyone involved in the smuggling scheme, the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova reports.
