Last Friday (September 4), MKT officers’ patrol was stopping and checking cars on the A2 Vilnius – Panevėžys highway.
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At about 6 p.m., officers noticed a suspicious Renault Trafic minibus heading towards Vilnius, which they managed to stop near Maišiagala by blocking the road with a service vehicle. The driver, leaving the vehicle, tried to escape into a nearby forest, but customs criminal officers caught up with and detained him.
Upon opening the minibus doors, it turned out that the Renault Trafic was full of boxes with illegal cigarettes. In total, officers found 25 thousand packs of various types of cigarettes – Marlboro Gold, Marlboro Silver, Marlboro Red, and Winston Blue, with a total value (including taxes) of more than 140 thousand euros.
All cigarettes were without excise stamps. It is suspected that these may be counterfeit tobacco products.
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The illegal cargo, vehicle, and driver – a Lithuanian citizen – were detained. A pre-trial investigation was initiated at the MKT Vilnius department for illegal handling of excise goods. The investigation is led by prosecutors from the Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office.
Later, the driver was released with preventive measures imposed – a written promise not to leave and confiscation of documents.
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