Estonian authorities seize 9 million smuggled cigarettes in Pärnumaa

Estonian Tax and Customs Board officials seized 9 million untaxed cigarettes during a roadside inspection in Pärnumaa on August 7. The seizure occurred when a truck with Lithuanian registration plates was stopped. While the driver presented documentation claiming the cargo consisted of 32 pallets of electronic modules being shipped from Lithuania to Sweden, inspectors discovered the hidden cigarettes inside cardboard boxes.

Following a settlement procedure, a court sentenced the 45-year-old Lithuanian driver to two and a half years in prison, including one month of immediate incarceration. The remaining sentence is suspended for a three-year probationary period. Additionally, the driver received a three-year ban on entering Estonia. The total tax loss resulting from the smuggling attempt is estimated at 1,910,700 euros.