2024-05-02 23:40:55
Customs officials detained more than 756,000 blanks for fake cigarette boxes during an inspection in the Danube Bridge – Vidin area, the “Customs” Agency reported.
The violation was discovered within the framework of the joint operation between the bodies of the Border Police, DG Border Police, Customs Agency and the National Narcotics Agency, with the aim of countering smuggling, during which inspections are carried out at various border points, both by joint teams and independently by the responsible institutions.
On 04/30/2024, in the area of the Danube Bridge – Vidin, customs officials from the “Combating Drug Trafficking” department of TD Mitnitsa Ruse stopped for inspection a truck with Bulgarian registration. According to the transport documents, the truck was transporting latex gloves to Hungary. The customs officials proceeded to physical inspection of the cargo, which consists of boxes with inscriptions corresponding to the documents.
Upon inspection, they found that in fact only the topmost cartons contained latex gloves, and the remaining cartons contained cigarette boxes with the Marlboro logo. 7 pallets weighing 6,720 kg with a total of 756,840 blanks for cigarette boxes were found. A subsequent check inside the country established that the blanks were delivered from Greece and transhipped in our country.
Cigarette boxes or box blanks are used in the manufacture of excise goods. Therefore, the detention of shipments that are not part of the supply activity of the official producer of the brand may be an indicator of possible illegal productions.
The cigarette box blanks discovered were seized on suspicion of infringing intellectual property rights. Work on the case continues with the notification of representatives of the trademark.