The Prosecutor’s Office jointly with the Intelligence and Security Service and the Customs Service announces that six citizens were detained being suspected of cigarette smuggling.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the authorities uncovered in a locality from Cahul the activity of a criminal group specialized in cigarette smuggling and detained a minibus with a quantity of 179 boxes of Ashima cigarettes, without excise stamp.

According to the institution, two inflatable boats, engines, and quick-inflating devices were found in the cargo compartment, which confirms the intention of smuggling. The goods were to be transported in Romania by evading customs posts.

According to the prosecutor’s office, it would result that this type of cigarette is taken from the Breakaway Transnistrian region, at a price of about 360 euros for a box, and in Romania, it can be sold at a price of 800 euros for a box.

During the operation, it was possible to identify and detain six people who were directly involved in the transport of the smuggled goods. Prosecutors intend that before the expiration of 72 hours (the detention period) to advance the accusation and to request from the investigating judge the application of the preventive measure – the arrest for a period of 30 days, for each of them.

According to the criminal law, smuggling is punishable by imprisonment from 4 to 10 years.