A fraudulent scheme of importing cars from the United States, worth over 17 million lei, was uncovered by law enforcement. According to the Customs Service, the cars were declared as being destined for the region on the left bank of the Dniester to avoid import taxes, but in reality they were to reach customers in Ukraine, reports IPN.
The Customs Service mentions that several economic agents who had commercial relations among them, including one based in the Transnistrian region, would have been involved in the scheme. According to law enforcement, the cars were declared with the destination of Tiraspol municipality, which allowed exemption from import duties.
The investigations have also revealed that some of the cars may have been dismantled and sold as auto parts on the right bank of the Nistru, without paying the taxes stipulated by law. Moreover, there are suspicions regarding the use of falsified commercial documents.
Following 11 searches, law enforcement officers seized over 460 thousand lei, nearly 8 thousand euros, and over 4 thousand dollars, as well as mobile phones, computing equipment, and other evidence. Six individuals, aged between 33 and 63, three of whom are from the Transnistrian region, are being investigated while at liberty.
The criminal prosecution actions continue in order to establish all the circumstances of the case, identify all the involved persons and administer the necessary evidence.
