Six persons who are citizens of Moldova and Romania were caught smuggling 60,000 packs of cigarettes over the Moldovan-Romanian border. Among the suspects are officers of the border police of Moldova. Policemen under cover were needed for catching them red-handed, IPN reports.

The Moldovans transported the cigarettes in boxes up to the border by two trucks. Afterward, the merchandise was passed over the Prut River with the help of rubber boats. In Romania, the cigarettes were to be sold on the black market.

During the arrest, the Moldovan border guards fired several shots in the air. The confiscated cigarettes were assessed at over half a million lei.

According to preliminary inquiries, two employees of the Leova Border Police Sector were involved in the smuggling scheme. They were arrested and suspended from posts until the investigation is completed. All those arrested are investigated for illegally crossing the state border and for smuggling.