VSAT detained over 2.5 million folks final yr. cigarette smuggling – 41 %. lower than in 2022

That is 41 %. lower than in 2022, when the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) detained over 4.3 million packs of contraband cigarettes.

In accordance with officers, the most important affect on this criminality was the checkpoint of the Stasylai railway, which was closed in February 2022 – the quantity of contraband transported by trains decreased from virtually 3 million packets final yr as much as 240 thousand. final yr.

Nonetheless, final yr border guards detected extra circumstances of cigarette smuggling than the yr earlier than – cigarette shipments turned smaller. In 2023, border guards recognized 593 circumstances of smuggling cigarettes, whereas in 2022 – 523.

Nearly all of circumstances of transportation have been recorded by the so-called inexperienced border – the place it passes by forests, fields, and border waters. On this means, 455 makes an attempt have been made to carry people who smoke into the nation.

The common measurement of a cargo of cigarettes transported throughout the so-called border decreased from 2.7 thousand. packets final yr as much as 1.6 thousand. final yr. In 2021, the typical cargo measurement was greater than 3 thousand. packets.

Border guards level out that in 2023 makes an attempt to fly cigarettes from Belarus with drones continued to extend. VSAT recorded 115 such circumstances (49 in 2022, 17 in 2021). It’s true that comparatively small masses are transported on this means.

Final yr, the worth of seized tobacco merchandise was estimated to be greater than 10.3 million. euros. The merchandise of the Gardin tobacco manufacturing unit “Neman” have been largely detained – NZ, “Minsk”, “Fest” cigarettes.

Within the evaluation of VSAT, measures which have just lately confirmed efficient within the struggle in opposition to smuggling embrace the set up of surveillance techniques alongside your entire border with Belarus, the set up of a bodily barrier at this border to stop unlawful migration, strengthened state border safety as a result of migrant disaster, lively prison intelligence, group of short-term operations, preventive work with border communities.