At least 25 searches were conducted in six localities in Moldova after an attempt to smuggle 3.8 million cigarettes out of Moldova was recently thwarted at the Vulcănești-Vinogradovca frontier post. The cigarettes were transported and sold in significant quantities to the CIS and the EU and the suspects obtained enormous revenues, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said the searches were carried out in the homes and cars of founders and managers of companies that import, produce and sell tobacco products and also in production units, storehouses and shops.

As a result of 14 hours of searches, there were seized different documents that are relevant for the investigation. Among the companies involved in fictitious transactions with raw material to the value of millions of lei are Transnistrian firms.

The smuggling scheme was identified at the Vulcănești border checkpoint ten days ago. The truck with trailer that was transporting the cigarettes was registered in Romania and was driven by a Moldovan aged 38. The truck entered Moldova through Giurgiulești on July 31. The driver refused to cooperate with the investigation team and avoided to make statements. He was placed under arrest.