The Government's decision to destroy confiscated tobacco is of historic importance; never before has such an enormous quantity been destroyed in one procedure. Every second of the destruction will be under video surveillance. Along with the smuggled tobacco, the last hopes of unscrupulous smugglers will be destroyed.
This was stated by Momo Koprivica, Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption, in a post on the Iks platform.
He said that the Coordination Body has also adopted an Operational Plan that contains a detailed framework for implementing the process of destroying confiscated cigarettes in the "Port of Bar" Free Zone, in all phases.
"This is the basis for security, efficient work processes, supervision, documentation, etc. Destruction is carried out using state-of-the-art equipment, in an environmentally friendly manner. Our determination in the fight against smuggling is maximum, without calculations or improvisations."
"For the sake of the public's proper understanding, it is important to emphasize that the seized tobacco should not have been sold because it was not marked with an excise stamp, therefore it is illegal, and in accordance with the applicable legal regulations and the Protocol on Suppression of Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, the only option available to the state is destruction. Here too, the Government did not use calculations but decisively took legal measures," Koprivica emphasized.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on representatives of the NGO sector to participate in monitoring the destruction process from beginning to end.
"Transparency and credibility are the starting points, but also the state interest. With this procedure, we achieve justice, restore trust, and protect the regular market that brings excise revenue to the state budget," he said.
Koprivica pointed out that the destruction was preceded by a maximally efficient and credible inventory of the seized tobacco, which also fulfilled the SDT's request for assistance in conducting the investigation, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, and that request, as he claims, was ignored before the arrival of the 44th Government, which speaks for itself. The inventory was conducted with the participation of partner services and representatives of the NGO sector, he added.
"What has been long awaited, what others did not want or dared not do, what is expected by both the domestic and European public, we are doing to the end, determined to eliminate all manifestations and consequences of tobacco smuggling, which not only brought enormous illegal revenues, but also deformed institutions.
"All institutions involved in this process and the Coordination Body have made an immeasurable contribution, and this is a measure of patriotic attitude towards the state and its interests," concluded Koprivica in a statement sent to the media.
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