Customs seize gold worth 4 million denars at Bogorodica; jeweller from Tetovo charged
A jeweller from Tetovo was charged after customs found 77 pieces of gold (612 g) hidden in a neck pillow on a bus from Istanbul.
Customs officers at the Bogorodica border crossing confiscated gold jewellery valued at 4 million denars from a passenger returning from Istanbul, authorities said. The traveller, a jeweller from Tetovo, was carrying the items hidden inside a neck pillow while riding a bus on the Istanbul–Gostivar route.
Seizure details and legal action
During a routine check of the bus, none of the passengers declared goods for customs control, which prompted a more detailed inspection. Officers discovered 77 pieces of gold jewellery weighing a total of 612 grams concealed in the neck pillow worn by the suspect.
Evidence collected during the preliminary investigation by the Investigations Unit indicates that the man had intended to illegally transport the jewellery he purchased from a workshop in Istanbul into the country and to sell it in his own shop in Tetovo.
A criminal complaint was filed against the owner for the criminal offence of "smuggling". The Customs Administration said it will continue operations aimed at protecting the state's financial interests and ensuring conditions for fair competition.
The case highlights ongoing border controls on passenger traffic and the use of concealment methods to evade customs duties. No further details about the suspect’s identity or the exact next steps in the legal process were released.
Photo: press material from the event
