On Sunday, 12 December, border guards seized more than 80,000 smuggled cigarettes in Rēzekne.
During the inspection of information on illegal movement of tobacco products, officers of the Ludza Board of the State Border Guard stopped a Chevrolet Captiva car, driven by a Latvian citizen. At the time of the inspection of a car, the border guards found several packages of smuggled cigarettes “NZ Black Edition” and “NZ Gold” in its cabin and luggage compartment.
In total, 50,000 “NZ Black Edition” and 30,220 “NZ Gold” cigarettes with Belarussian excide stamps were seized.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated after Section 221, Paragraph three of the Criminal Law (regarding the illegal movement of tobacco products, which was committed in large quantities), and regarding this type of criminal offence the Law provides the deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years or temporary deprivation of liberty, or community service, or a fine, with or without the confiscation of property and with or without probationary supervision for a period of up to three years.