Over 244,340 pieces of cigarettes were seized by customs officers at TD Mitnitsa Ruse during inspections in the area of the border crossing at Danube Bridge - Vidin. The cigarettes were found in two cases - hidden in a shipment of furniture, as well as in natural cavities of a car.
On February 6, 2026, in the area of Danube Bridge 2 Vidin - Calafat, customs officers found 220,020 pieces of cigarettes hidden in cavities of furniture. The violation was found during an inspection of a truck with a Stara Zagora registration, driven by a Bulgarian citizen. The driver explained that he was transporting furniture, bottles and metal parts to Belgium. The international waybill he presented described 15 packages weighing 400 kg, and the document was without a number.
Customs officers carried out a physical inspection during which they found that cigarettes with Turkish excise stamps of various brands were hidden in all 15 upholstered furniture panels. Their total quantity is 11,001 boxes (220,020 pieces) with a market value of 39,045.62 euros. Under the leadership of the District Prosecutor's Office - Vidin, pre-trial proceedings are being conducted for a crime under Art. 234, para. 1 of the Criminal Code. By a prosecutor's decree, the driver of the vehicle - 54-year-old I.I., was brought as a defendant. The investigation into the case continues.