As announced yesterday, the National Service for
Combating Organized Crime started a large-scale check-up at the
customs of Kulata, Zlatarevo, Vidin and Sofia airport checkpoints.
The campaign was initiated upon last week's instructions by the
Sofia Prosecutor's Office of Appeal.
The investigation was provoked by a publication in
24 Hours Daily of May 28, which described the smuggling channels,
publicly announced the previous day by the Center for the Study of
Democracy, magistrates explained.
Thus for instance, household appliances have been
illegally imported via the route Thessaloniki - Kulata. The same
channel has been used for smuggling various types of Chinese goods,
survey data of the Center show. Fruits and vegetables have been
smuggled though Zlatarevo checkpoint. Meat and poultry have been
usually smuggled via the route Europe - Kalotina - Sofia and
Thessaloniki - Kulata - Sofia. According to the data of the Center
for the Study of Democracy, smugglers have tried various tricks,
such as using false certificates in order to avoid the payment of
taxes and excise duties imposed on the imported goods.
Police officers should trace companies involved in smuggling of
goods and should find out what the import mechanism is.
Magistrates have required the specialized
police officers to check the data on the goods declared at the
incoming and outgoing checkpoints as well as the type and quantity
of the goods that the internal customs bureaus have imposed customs
duties on. Within one month the results of the check-ups should be
forwarded to the Prosecutor of Appeal Mr. Ivan Petrov.
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