Four arrested in major excise stamp falsification

The police have found a clandestine printing press in Chisinau which falsified excise stamps for cigarettes and spirits. Four persons, aged between 27 and 45, were arrested following a controlled buy, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vitalie Briceag, head of MoI’s Fraud Investigation Division, told a press conference on Friday that the suspects got under the police’s radar as early as the beginning of this year and have been under monitoring ever since. They were operating out of car workshop. The clandestine printing press ceased its activity for a while due to technical issues and a fire. The suspects’ arrest became possible on September 28, after the test results of the stamps bought in the controlled buy proved that they were fake. According to Vitalie Briceag, one of the four suspects was caught red-handed. The other three were apprehended on the same day, admitting their guilt. A total of 8 searches, including the suspects’ homes and cars, found 1.6 million fake excise stamps estimated at 24 million lei. In addition, the police found primary materials for the falsification of stamps for a further estimated value of 30 million lei. Thus, if the stamps would’ve reached the market, the State Budget would’ve lost around 50 million lei said Briceag. In the beginning the police only knew about the falsification of stamps for alcohol. Afterwards, it was discovered that fake stamps were also printed for tobacco products. The potential clients were individuals and legal entities that, in turn, intended to market counterfeit products. Vitalie Briceag says that the investigation continues, and new arrests could ensue. Presses for counterfeiting tax bills were also found at the printing press. The four suspects face up to 5 years in jail. At the end of last year, a vehicle with 50,000 counterfeit stamps was found. The person responsible was sentenced to 3 years in jail.