The Customs Service of Moldova collected information about the confiscation by the Romanian authorities of a truck registered in Moldova that transported contraband cigarettes. Over 78,000 containers that included each 20 packs of cigarettes Plugarul with Moldovan fiscal stamps, to the value of about €140,000, were found in the truck, IPN reports.

According to the General Customs Directorate of Romania, the truck travelling on the Turkey-Russia route was checked on June 22. The documents showed that it was transporting 15,600 kilograms of silicon dioxide under the customs seal of the Turkish customs authorities.

When using special equipment, the customs officers determined that the stamps from the packets didn’t have the required safety elements and had all the same series. It was thus established that these had been multiplied.

The driver said the cigarettes could have been put in the truck at a service station in Bulgaria without his knowledge. An investigation is under way.