Vitebsk customs officers discovered smuggled cigarettes in the wheels and fuel tank

August 9, Minsk /BELTA/. Vitebsk customs officers detained a smuggler attempting to transport cigarettes in hidden compartments equipped in the wheels and fuel tank. This was reported to BELTA by the press service of the State Customs Committee of Belarus.

A Volvo truck driven by a Polish citizen arrived at the Urbany Vehicle Customs Clearance Post of Vitebsk customs for departure from Belarus. According to the accompanying documents, the truck of the Polish firm was not transporting any goods. However, during customs control, Vitebsk customs officers discovered hidden compartments in the vehicle. In the spare wheels and two wheels of the semi-trailer's lifting axle, as well as in the tractor's fuel tank, there were 7,350 packs of "Minsk Slim" brand cigarettes of Belarusian production and 3,100 packs of "Viceroy" brand cigarettes of Russian production.

To retrieve the contraband from the hidden compartments, customs officers had to dismantle the vehicle's fuel tank and unmount the wheels. The vehicle, valued at Br302 million, and cigarettes, valued at over Br30 million, have been seized.

Commenting on this incident, the press service of the SCC noted that Belarusian customs officers encounter cigarette smuggling on a daily basis. Such administrative offenses are among the most frequent at border crossing points. Customs officers have become so adept at understanding all the tricks of cigarette smugglers that they can easily and quickly find various hidden compartments, even the most inconspicuous ones. There have also been cases where tobacco products were hidden in rotating wheels. One can only guess at what speed the smuggler had to drive for their goods not to simply turn into tobacco mush. -0-