The pseudo-diplomat, who was trying to transport a full minibus of cigarettes without excise stamps to Hungary, was detained by the State Border Guard Service on the night of September 25-26.

The pseudo-diplomat, who was trying to transport a full minibus of cigarettes without excise stamps to Hungary, was detained by the State Border Guard Service on the night of September 25-26.

Transporting a consignment of tobacco products on a particularly large scale was stopped during joint activities at the Tisa BCP by operation and investigation officers of the Chop Border Guard Detachment, together with investigators from the Territorial Office of the State Bureau of Investigation in Lviv, under the procedural guidance of the Transcarpathia Regional Prosecutor's Office.

During the inspection of the driver’s documents, who is a citizen of Ukraine, the border guards found out a complete forgery of the diplomatic card and the appendix to it, which he provided. The further check of the Mercedes bus proved the fact that the number plate with diplomatic number was also forged. Therefore, after the arrival of representatives of the State Tax Service in Transcarpathia region, a joint investigative task force consisting of operational staff of the Chop Border Guard Detachment and officers of the bodies supervising compliance with tax legislation, the minibus was inspected. It turned out that the vehicle was completely filled with Compliment and Lifa cigarettes without the excise stamp of Ukraine.

Based on this fact, notification of the detected criminal offence provided by Art. 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine that is “Illegal manufacture, storage, sale or transportation of excisable goods for sale” has been directed to the address of the State Fiscal Service. The driver’s actions also show signs of a crime provided by Art. 358 of the Criminal Code “Forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals and stamps”.

Involvement of some customs officers in facilitating tobacco products smuggling across the State border of Ukraine is possible.

Procedural measures are underway, cigarettes are being unloaded, their exact quantity and estimated value are being specified.