POLICE/ 495 contraband cigarette cartons from Greece, 48-year-old arrested!

Korçë/ The Economic and Financial Crime Investigation Sector successfully concludes the police operation “Smoking kills,” targeting a case of contraband goods subject to excise tax.

A 48-year-old man was caught in the act on the “Pogradec – Qafë Thanë” road axis while transporting 495 cartons of cigarettes without fiscal stamps in a vehicle, suspected to have been smuggled from Greece. He was arrested.

The 48-year-old has a criminal record related to narcotics and smuggling. The seized items include the cigarette cartons, the vehicle, and two mobile phones.

Specialists from the Economic and Financial Crime Investigation Section, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent, detect, and combat criminal activities in the field of smuggling, organized the police operation codenamed “Smoking kills” based on intelligence reports.

During the operation, on the “Pogradec – Qafë Thanë” road axis, police services stopped a vehicle driven by citizen D. H. A search of the vehicle uncovered 495 cartons of cigarette packs, suspected to have been brought into Albania without customs clearance procedures.

Following the investigative actions, D. H., 48 years old, resident of Tirana, was arrested in flagrante delicto for the criminal offenses of “Smuggling of goods subject to excise duty or with full or partial exemption from customs or excise duties” and “Trade and transportation of smuggled goods.”

The case has been referred to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Korçë for further legal proceedings.

CREATED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”