National Customs Agency

Customs officers at Lesovo BCP seized a large quantity of 121 400 pieces (6070 boxes) of smuggled cigarettes hidden in furniture in a truck.
The truck with a foreign registration arrived at the Lesovo BCP on November 18, 2024 on an inbound route from Turkey. In the customs control area, the driver, a Turkish citizen with the initials K.R., presented documents stating that he was transporting furniture in transit from Turkey to France via Bulgaria.
During the inspection with specialized X-ray equipment, customs officers identified suspicious areas in the declared cargo. A physical inspection was carried out, during which inspectors found a total of 121 400 pieces (6070 boxes) of cigarettes of various brands, all with Turkish excise stamps, in factory cavities in the backs of upholstered sofas among the declared furniture. The contraband tobacco products were seized and the driver of the truck was issued an administrative violation notice.
The inspection was carried out as part of the joint anti-smuggling operation, with the participation of teams from National Customs Agency, the DG Border Police, the DG Combating Organized Crime and the National Revenue Agency.