The officers of the Revenue and Customs Administration (UPC) seized 1.188 packs of cigarettes, or about 594.000 packs, today in the Free Zone of the Port of Bar.
All cigarettes are without excise stamps.
Cigarettes were delivered in a container from the United Arab Emirates, and Montenegrin customs officials prevented them from being smuggled through the Port of Bar.
The value of the seized cigarettes is estimated at more than 1.600.000 euros, the UPC announced.
A total of three brands of cigarettes were found in the container: FM, Stella Defina and Stella Aqua.
"Based on the analysis of the data from the bill of lading and the risk analysis conducted by the UPC officials and the collected operational data, a special surveillance of this container was proposed, and customs operational methods were carried out in the sense of possible detection of smuggling of goods," states the UPC.
They said that the company Stefan Rex from Zagreb was listed as the consignee in the bill of lading, which, according to them, is on the blacklist for illegal tobacco traffic.
"Given that the recipient did not appear in this procedure to place the goods in any of the customs procedures, the agent was informed that a detailed customs inspection will be conducted today, which resulted in the prevention of smuggling," adds UPC.
They said that the Revenue and Customs Administration will provide detailed information to all partner services at the national and international level, in order to continue investigations and collect additional data on the said shipment.
"We remind you that the decision of the Government of Montenegro prohibits the storage of tobacco products on the territory of the Luka Bar Free Zone, which is fully respected, and transit is controlled in accordance with the applicable customs regulations," the announcement concludes.
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