Lithuanian customs officers have seized 2,500 packs of smuggled cigarettes concealed on a coach arriving from Belarus, the Customs Department said on Friday.
At around 15:00 on Tuesday, two Belarusian drivers of a Yutong coach told officials at the Medininkai border crossing that they were not carrying any prohibited goods. However, officers noted the bus was carrying only seven passengers – unusually few for the route – and decided to carry out a detailed inspection.
During the search, officers discovered cigarettes hidden in the ceiling of the drivers’ sleeping compartment. Further checks, including the use of an X-ray scanning system, revealed additional concealment points beneath upholstery, inside the vehicle’s floor, in the ceiling and within other structural cavities.
In total, 2,500 packs of NZ Gold cigarettes were found, with an estimated value of €12,000 including taxes.
A pre-trial investigation into suspected smuggling has been opened. Both drivers were detained and later released subject to conditions imposed by Vilnius District Court. Their identity documents were confiscated, they were ordered not to leave the country and required to report regularly to the police.
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