8 fabrics illegally producing cigarettes in the suburbs of Shkodra were seized by authorities on Thursday. Taxa authority, customs and “Crown Agents” employees, assisted by state police, managed to some 1.7 tons of tobacco and 9 production machineries. 43 000 cigarettes packages ready to be sold were also found and seized.
Pranvera Fagu, General Director of the Custom Office explains this was the second step of the operation started some weeks ago with the closure of illegal tobacco markets operating all over the country. This second phase is focused in Shkodra, where main collection and fabrication points are located.
Tax authority investigators suspect the criminal network is a well-organized activity involving also players from Montenegro and Macedonia. During the operation, Macedonian written packages were found, most probably to be sent in the neighboring country.
As the operation continues in other areas, authorities suspect the figure of revenues not collected is very high. Meanwhile, the Custom Office appealed to the tobacco growers to legalize their business in order to guarantee their product quality.
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