LONDON: The Bulgarian customs have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 16.2 tonnes of cut tobacco for smoking across the country’s border with Greece and save BGN 2.5 M (EUR 1.27 M) in excise duty.
The tobacco had been discovered by customs officers in a Bulgarian-registered truck at Kulata crossing on the border with Greece, the National Customs Agency said in a statement on Monday.
The truck, owned by a Bulgarian company and having a Bulgarian driver, was travelling from Greece to France, according to the cargo manifest. An inspection of the cargo in a laboratory showed that the shipment contained cut tobacco for smoking.