MUP: Police seize record 1,338 tons of tobacco

BELGRADE - The police, Security Information Agency and Tax Administration executed an action in which they seized the record 1,338 tons of tobacco and arrested 12 individuals who claimed illegal gains of over RSD 490 million.

The action which led to the highest tobacco confiscation in the history of Serbia was executed in collaboration with the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Sabac, the Serbian Ministry of Interior Affairs (MUP) released on Thursday.

The suspects are charged with abuse of office, forgery of official documents and tax evasion, wherein they caused around RSD 139 million worth of losses to the budget of the Republic of Serbia, states the release.

A total of 1,338,082 kilograms of tobacco worth RSD 295,153,705.14 that was not registered in relevant business records was delivered to the Duvan tobacco processing plant in Ljubovija in the course of 2014 for further processing and sale on the black market.

In order to conceal the criminal acts they committed, the suspects forged official documents. The dried tobacco was discovered in the warehouse facilities and immediately confiscated.