The group that transported illegal cigarettes to Norway was exposed – the suspects enjoyed a luxurious life – Respublika.lt

The Customs Criminal Service (MKT) reported on Thursday that last week the joint forces of the MKT, the State Border Guard Service and Europol officers conducted searches throughout Lithuania of suspects in the illegal possession of excise goods and money laundering at home.

With the help of FNTT and “Aro” officials, 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 men 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, who officially earn modest salaries, lived luxuriously. One of them, earning only the minimum wage, had three luxury cars with a total value of 250-300 thousand. euros, which 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, including 16 apartments on the coast of Lithuania. The authorities temporarily restricted the property rights of the suspects.

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 labels), as well as “NZ Gold”, “NZ Black”, “Dove Menthol SuperSlims”, “Minsk SuperSlims” (with Belarusian labels) and others. The total value of the arrested smokers (with 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 suspects, according to the officials, acted particularly brazenly, and some of them have been convicted of smuggling in the past.

This investigation was started last year, with Lithuanian officials cooperating with Norwegian and Polish law enforcement officials.