33 people accused of large-scale smuggling from Belarus on trial in Poland
The District Court in Siedlce will hear a case in which 33 people are accused . According to the investigation materials, they were involved in an organized criminal group that engaged in illegal import of cigarettes and tax fraud.
Illustrative photo. Photo: podlaskie24.pl
The group operated from November 2018 to October 2021. Cigarettes were illegally imported from Belarus to Poland through the "Bobrovniki" road checkpoint, as well as through the "Terespol" railway crossing.
In total, according to investigation materials, 29.44 million packs of cigarettes were smuggled. Losses for the Polish budget are estimated at almost 498 million zlotys (over 140 million dollars at the current exchange rate).
To ensure unimpeded transport, the group members allegedly paid bribes to customs officers totaling no less than 99.5 thousand zlotys and 898.4 thousand euros. However, the customs officers themselves are not named in this indictment.
As part of the investigation, assets worth 10.9 million zlotys were seized.
The indictment was sent to the court by the Podlaskie Department for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor's Office in Białystok.