Customs officials at the Bogorodica border crossing have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 6.4 kilograms of silver, valued at 472,000 denars. A criminal complaint will be filed against the perpetrator for smuggling, a crime punishable under the Criminal Code.

The Customs Administration announced that mobile customs teams have also prevented the smuggling of tools, cigarettes, and icons in separate incidents at different border crossings.

During a routine check of a truck entering the country at the Bogorodica crossing, mobile customs officers discovered 1,944 pieces of undeclared silver jewelry weighing 5.4 kilograms and two silver plates weighing one kilogram hidden in factory cavities. The truck was carrying goods from Turkey destined for a Macedonian company. Additionally, 20 cartons of undeclared cigarettes, including Marlboro and Muratti, were found in the toolbox and under the driver’s seat.

The investigation revealed that the perpetrator, after loading goods in Istanbul, agreed to transport the silver to Skopje for a fee, concealing it in the drawer near the passenger seat and behind the electronics plastics in the driver’s seat section.

In a separate incident at the Gevgelija customs office, customs officials discovered 192 sets of hand tools and 40 chainsaws not declared on customs documents in a shipment of goods originating from China and intended for an importer from Skopje.

Furthermore, at the Tabanovce border crossing, 28 pieces of used electric tools and chargers were found in the travel bags of a passenger on a bus traveling from Italy to Macedonia. Also at Tabanovce, a Macedonian citizen was stopped while attempting to smuggle 250 undeclared icons into the country, concealed in various locations within their vehicle.

Finally, customs officials from the Skopje 3 customs office seized 5,475 boxes of school supplies with protected trademark markings, suspecting intellectual property rights infringement.

The case involving the silver smuggling is now under investigation by the Investigation Department of the Control and Investigation Sector for further proceedings.