Aroma for hookahs, tobacco, textiles and mobile phones confiscated

Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA), authorised officers Regional Centre Tuzla, Sarajevo and Banja Luka, in several separate actions at several locations, confiscated a large amount of flavourings for hookahs, cut tobacco, textiles and mobile phones worth approximately BAM 127,000.

ITA authorised officers, Group for the Prevention of Smuggling and Offenses of RC Tuzla, Sarajevo and Banja Luka, carried out several operational activities to prevent smuggling and illegal traffic of excise goods and goods of foreign origin in the area of the regional centres of Tuzla, Banja Luka and Sarajevo, which resulted with confiscation of large quantities of various types of goods.

In the territory of the municipality of Ključ, an operational check of the application of the Law on Excise Taxes in Bosnia and Herzegovina was carried out, during which a large amount of excise goods intended for illegal sale was found and temporarily confiscated in several locations. It was about 63 pieces of hookah-pipes and 103 packages/pieces of flavoring for hookahs, estimated value in the amount of approx. BAM 25,000, which were not marked with ITA excise stamps in the prescribed manner.

During a detailed inspection of a van at the Orašje border crossing of a natural person who intended to go through the customs procedure without paying import duties, undeclared goods were found and temporarily confiscated (textiles – 257 pieces of jackets, coats, dresses, etc.). Also at the Bijeljina customs office, a detailed inspection of a cargo motor vehicle was carried out, in the shipment of which PVC material (granules and glasses) was reported, and temporarily confiscated hidden and contraband goods were found – 16 pieces of iPhone mobile phones. The total value of temporarily seized goods in the two cases mentioned is approximately BAM 50,000.

Acting on an anonymous report received through the open line of the ITA Operations Center, a sales and storage space owned by a natural person from Sarajevo was located and controlled in the area of the city of Sarajevo. On that occasion, 272.5 kilograms of finely cut tobacco, with a market value of approx. BAM 52,000, which was not marked with ITA excise stamps and for which the owner did not have documentation on origin/acquisition.

Law-prescribed measures and actions will be taken against the perpetrators of the described illegalities within the framework of misdemeanor or criminal proceedings.

When taking measures within their jurisdiction, the authorized officials of the ITA used specialized equipment, donated by the US Embassy in BiH, through the EXBS Program, as well as by UNDP/UNODC.

The Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina invites all citizens to report any form of customs or VAT evasion, or illegal sale of excise goods to our open line 080 02 06 07. All calls are free and completely anonymous. Citizens can also send a photo and location where cigarettes and tobacco are illegally sold to Viber number 065 355 155.