Skopje Customs seize tobacco and alcohol in Chair market raid

Customs officials from the Skopje Customs Office and mobile teams from the Department for Operational Affairs conducted a raid at the green market in the Chair municipality. The operation resulted in the seizure of 135 kilograms of cut tobacco and 30 liters of alcohol that had not been subject to excise duties.

Three individuals were caught selling excise products without required stamps. Authorities reported that the evaded excise tax amounted to 337,558 denars. Two individuals face misdemeanor charges, while one individual, involved in the sale of products with an evaded excise value of 257,000 denars, will face criminal charges under the Criminal Code.

The Customs Administration stated that this action is part of a broader, intensified effort to combat the illegal trade of tobacco and excise products in North Macedonia following the suppression of an international organized crime group involved in cigarette imports.