Yesterday, May 5, more than 25 searches took place in Briceni district. As a result, six people were detained and five means of transport were seized. The investigation was carried out by the SIS officers jointly with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police and the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office.
Authorities documented illegal actions of the group regarding the transfer of about 125,000 packs of cigarettes, worth 3,000,000 lei, via "green" border of the Moldovan-Romanian border. To commit these illegalities, the members of the group found border police officers who facilitated the transport of cigarettes across the border for 18,000 euros. These actions were constantly monitored and all cases of corruption of Border Police employees were reported to the investigative body.
Investigations into this case continue in order to identify all accomplices and to gather evidence relevant to the case.
At the same time, the latest investigations revealed that the criminal group was preparing a new smuggling scheme of weapons from Ukraine. At the moment, authorities are identifying goods that belong to the documented persons and that were acquired through criminal means, in order to seize them.
Note: Throughout the criminal investigation, the suspects are presumed innocent.