The illegal goods were uncovered during an inspection conducted by officers of the Customs and Fiscal Service from the Lower Silesian Customs and Tax Office in Wrocław together with police officers from the Economic Crime Department of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Legnica.
E-cigarettes found in courier parcels
The officers carried out activities at one of the courier parcel warehouses in Legnica. The inspection was focused on detecting illegal trade in excise goods.
The selected parcels contained disposable e-cigarettes. Each device contained 40 ml of liquid. The goods did not bear Polish excise stamps or the required health warnings in Polish.
A total of 13,200 e-cigarettes were seized. The authorities’ findings indicate that they were intended for further distribution.
More than PLN 2 million in potential losses
KAS reported that preliminary calculations indicate a possible reduction in public-law receivables by more than PLN 2 million. This concerns excise duty and VAT that might not have been paid if the illegal products had gone on sale.
During the activities, the officers determined that the seized e-cigarettes belonged to a 32-year-old resident of Legnica. According to the authorities’ findings, the man stored excise goods in breach of applicable regulations.
The 32-year-old was charged
The prosecutor’s office took up the case. The man was charged with offences related to violations of fiscal criminal law, as well as regulations concerning health protection and bans related to the production or import of tobacco products.
Preventive measures were imposed on the suspect: police supervision, a property bond and a ban on leaving the country.
The proceedings are ongoing.
KAS reminds the public that buying excise goods from illegal sources may mean not only supporting illegal activity but also risking criminal liability.