As many as 5.6 million cigarettes were seized at customs posts in 2017, as opposed to 4.4 million in 2016. The data were presented by the director general of the Customs Service Vitalie Vrabie in a news conference on January 4, IPN reports.

According to Vitalie Vrabie, the number of customs frauds, cases of smuggling and non-authentic declaring was significantly reduced last year. The goods seized in contravention and criminal cases were assessed at over 70 million lei, up 60% on 2016.

The revenues collected by the Customs Service into the state budget in 2017 came to more than 20.3 billion lei, an increase of 17% on a year before.

Vitalie Vrabie noted that to ensure the efficiency of the Customs Service, emphasis in 2018 will be laid on the professional training of customs employees and promotion of proper behavior. The customs authority will continue to support the businesses by simplifying customs procedures for obtaining the Authorized Economic Operator and Approved Exporter authorizations.