Investigation opened into cigarette smuggling — 19 individuals and 4 companies under probe
Specialized prosecution ordered the probe after a Customs Administration complaint; prosecutors requested detention for five suspects.
A specialized public prosecutor has ordered a criminal investigation against 19 natural persons and four legal entities after a complaint filed by the Customs Administration, alleging coordinated schemes to illegally import and transit large quantities of cigarettes while evading customs duties, taxes and excise. The suspects are formally suspected of Smuggling, Customs fraud and Avoidance of excise payment.
How the alleged scheme worked
The probe covers multiple incidents during 2024 in which loaded freight trucks reportedly crossed border checkpoints without proper customs control, or goods declared as transit were unloaded on the territory of North Macedonia while the vehicles continued empty toward exit border crossings.
According to evidence gathered so far, the actions involved truck drivers and responsible persons in companies, as well as customs and other officials. Some of the suspected officials are accused of allowing vehicles to pass unchecked, entering false data into official electronic systems, destroying customs paperwork or cancelling transit customs declarations and releasing guarantees although the goods were not presented to the destination customs authority.
The total damage to the state budget from the alleged conduct is estimated at 250,149,784 denars, the Public Prosecutor’s Office says.
Assessing that legal conditions for restrictive measures have been met, the prosecutor submitted a motion to the pretrial judge at the Basic Court Skopje seeking detention for five suspects. House arrest was proposed for one suspect, while precautionary measures were requested for the remaining persons. To date five suspects, including three foreign nationals, are unavailable to law enforcement.
The investigation remains active and prosecutors said further operational and investigative steps will follow as authorities continue to examine the evidence and identify additional participants.
Photo: press material from the event
