On Wednesday, February 2, the border guards seized more than 110,00 smuggled cigarettes at Augšdaugava District.
While carrying out the immigration control, the border guards of the Daugavpils Board of the State Border Guard tried to stop a Volvo V70 car on the motorway A6 in Līksna Parish, Augšdaugava District, however the driver did not comply with the legal requirements of the State Border Guard to stop the car and fled away. Following the car, the border guards soon found it in an abandoned summer house complex in the village of Lubaste. During the urgent investigation, border guards noticed several bags of smuggled cigarettes „NZ Gold” in the cars luggage compartment and in its cabin.
In total 111.640 „NZ Gold” cigarettes with Belarusian excise stamps were seized.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated pursuant to Section 221, Paragraph three of the Criminal Law (regarding illegal storage and movement of tobacco products, if committed in large quantities). On Thursday, February 3, the border guards’ detained one person, possible suspect, involved in the above - mentioned crime. The investigation is still ongoing.
Regarding this type of a criminal offence, the Law provides either deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years, temporary deprivation of liberty, probation supervision, community service of a fine, with or without confiscation of a property.
An administrative violation proceeding has also been initiated against the person pursuant to Section 52, Paragraph five of the Road Traffic Regulation, regarding the non - compliance with a repeated request of a person, authorized to inspect the driver’s documents, to stop the vehicle (for escaping). For this type of infringement, a fine in the amount between two hundred and four hundred monetary units is imposed on the driver, as well as he is been deprived of the right to drive for five years. The case materials have been forwarded to the State Police according to their jurisdiction.