ITA and SIPA: Seized tobacco and cigarettes worth BAM 288,750

Authorized officers of the Indirect Taxation Authority in cooperation with officers of the State Agency for Investigation and Protection – SIPA, in several separate actions, confiscated a large amount of tobacco, tobacco products and equipment worth BAM 288,750.

In the area of Banja Luka, ITA officers from all regional centers in cooperation with SIPA officers participated in the implementation of operational activities under the code name King aimed at preventing illegality in the sale of excise goods. During the implementation of the aforementioned operational activities, a total of 27,283 packs of cigarettes and 350.7 kg of cut tobacco, as well as a cigarette filling machine, were found and temporarily confiscated from several natural persons. The confiscated tobacco and cigarettes were not marked with ITA excise stamps, and the total market value of the temporarily confiscated goods is estimated at BAM 232,000.00.

Acting within the framework of previously obtained intelligence and reports from citizens, authorized ITA officers from all regional centers carried out operational checks on the application of the Excise Law in BiH in the territories of Banja Luka, Trebinje, Zenica and Tuzla. On that occasion, they found 132.5 kg of cut tobacco, 4,971 packs of cigarettes and 3,840 pieces of hand-rolled cigarettes in several locations with a large number of natural persons. The goods in question were not marked with ITA excise stamps in the prescribed manner, and their value is estimated at BAM 56,750.

When undertaking measures within their jurisdiction, ITA officers used specialized equipment donated to the Authority by the US Embassy in BiH, through the EXBS Program, as well as by UNDP/UNODC.

The Indirect Taxation Authority in BiH 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.