A Bulgarian driver crashed on the M5 with hidden conterfeit drinks

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 06. 12. 09:18

The Bulgarian driver who transported hundreds of liters of alcohol on the flatbed of his truck was trying to get from Bulgaria to Belgium, but the tax inspectors of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) found contraband among the beverage cartons, NAV told MTI on Monday.

It was written that the tax inspectors checked a truck with a Belgian license plate on the M5 motorway. Based on the waybill, the driver delivered food, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. However, the circumstances led to the conclusion that there might be a problem with the cargo, which is why the patrols decided to carry out a batch inspection.

Their hunch was confirmed: the driver tried to hide 4,350 packs of cigarettes with Bulgarian stamps among the boxes of food and soft drinks lined up in order. He claimed the tobacco product as his own, but could not prove its origin.

The employees of NAV seized the cigarettes worth about 9 million forints and initiated a procedure due to the well-founded suspicion of committing the crime of budget fraud. The driver of the vehicle can also expect an excise fine of approximately HUF 13 million, the announcement states.