searches throughout Lithuania, suspicions were brought against 8 people

Eight people have been charged with possession of excise goods – almost a million packs of cigarettes, worth 3.8 million, were detained during the investigation. euros.

The suspects’ property rights to real estate in Spain and Lithuania, luxury passenger cars, etc. are restricted.

According to the officials, the suspects, who mostly come from or live in Suvalkija, acted particularly brazenly, and some of them have already been convicted of smuggling in the past.

Last Tuesday, April 23, the joint forces of MKT, VSAT and Europol officers conducted searches throughout Lithuania in the houses of suspects of illegal possession of excise goods and legalization of criminally obtained assets. Searches, with the help of FNTT and “Aro” officers, took place in Vilnius, Kaunas, Jurbarka, Alytus and Veisiejai, as well as in Marijampolė district.

A total of 8 people were charged, 2 were arrested. One of the detainees was released after questioning, and the other was detained for 2 months. Other suspects are subject to various pretrial measures – a written promise not to leave, collection of documents, obligation to periodically register at the police office.

The suspects, officially earning modest salaries, lived in luxury. One of them, earning only the minimum wage, had three luxury cars (total value 250-300 thousand euros), a boat. Some are suspected to have purchased real estate in Spain with the proceeds of crime.

Also, one of the suspects, acting through close relatives and legal entities, allegedly acquired a large amount of high-value real estate. Of which there are 16 apartments on the coast of Lithuania.

The authorities temporarily restricted the property rights of the suspects.

The investigation was started last year, with Lithuanian officials cooperating with Norwegian and Polish law enforcement officials. The detainees are suspected of possessing a large amount of excise goods – cigarettes – and transporting them to Norway.

A total of 961 thousand people fell into the hands of the authorities during various arrests in Lithuania and abroad. packs of cigarettes: Winston and Prince (without stickers), as well as NZ Gold, NZ Black, Dove Menthol SuperSlims, Minsk SuperSlims (with Belarusian stickers), etc. The total value of the arrested smokers (including taxes) is about 3 million. 854 thousand euros

Three of the detainees have previously been convicted of cigarette smuggling. Almost all of them come from or live in Suvalkija.