Since Slovakia joined the Schengen zone on December 21, customs officials have seized over 1.54 million cigarettes illegally imported from Ukraine, it was reported on February 19. This equates to an average of 25,679 cigarettes a day, while the total amount seized in the given period represents tax evasion of more than Sk4 million (€121,000).
Klára Baloghová, spokesperson for the customs authority in Michalovce (Košice region), confirmed for TASR that it was tobacco products and motor fuels that were the most problematic commodities in this respect.
"This is highly-taxable merchandise, which is why there is such great interest in it," she said.
Slovakia's entry to the Schengen zone has led to extra controls on the state border with Ukraine, new technology for the Customs Office, and improvements to the infrastructure of border-crossing points, including a new inspections hall on the Ubla border crossing and radiation detectors at Čierna nad Tisou, Matovce, Vyšné Nemecké and Ubla. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
