In the early hours of Monday, April 1, in Krāslava Municipality, border guards seized 40 000 contraband cigarettes.
While checking information on the illegal movement of tobacco products, border guards of the Daugavpils Board of the State Border Guard in Ūdrīši Municipality, about 20 metres from the Daugava river bank, detected two Latvian citizens carrying bundles of smuggled cigarettes wrapped in polythene film.
In total, border guards seized 30 000 "NZ Gold" cigarettes and 15,000 "Queen" cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps. The smugglers also had a suit for diving, as well as flippers.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the person under Section 221(3) of the Criminal Law (illicit movements of tobacco products committed on a large-scale) and for the criminal offence commitment the Law provides punishment - the deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years or temporary deprivation of liberty, or probationary supervision, or community service, or fine, with or without confiscation of property.