The group transported smokers to Norway, and from this earnings bought luxury cars and real estate in Spain and Lithuania

The officers of the Customs and Criminal Service (MKT) exposed a group that transported illegal cigarettes to Norway – suspicions were brought against 8 people, and almost 1 million packs of cigarettes were seized.

Last week, on April 23, MKT officers, together with officers of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) and Europol, with the help of the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT) and the Anti-Terrorist Operations Squad “Aras”, conducted searches in five Lithuanian cities.

They were carried out in the course of a pre-trial investigation into the possession of cigarettes, their transportation to Norway and the legalization of criminally obtained property.

Eight persons were charged with possession of excise goods – almost 1 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, MKT reported.

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 at the houses of suspects of illegal possession of excise goods and the legalization of criminally obtained assets.

With the help of FNTT and “Aro” officers, searches were conducted in Vilnius, Kaunas, Jurbarkas, Alytus and Veisiejai, as well as in Marijampolė district.

Suspicions were brought against 8 persons in total, 2 were detained. 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.

According to MKT, 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) and others. 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.

The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the officers of the Kaunas Department of the MKT, and is headed by the Kaunas District Prosecutor’s Office.