The value of the seized contraband shocks – over PLN 5 million! Customs and taxation Service officers have intercepted a immense amount of illegal e-cigarettes, including 36,000 disposable devices with nicotine content above the permitted standards. The detention took place in Zamość, and a cargo was found among the passengers, which violated the applicable rules. What precisely is the danger of a driver carrying specified contraband?
Stopping of the bus with contraband in Zamość
The detention took place during a regular roadside inspection. Customs and taxation Service officers in Zamość stopped to inspect the bus, the driver of which was a Ukrainian citizen. The vehicle carried 36 1000 disposable e-cigarettes, whose marketplace value was over PLN 5 million. "The man carried 36 1000 disposable electronic cigarettes with a capacity of 22 and 23 ml and a nicotine content of 50 mg/ml", says Michał Derus, spokesperson for the Chamber of taxation Administration in Lublin.
Illegal e-cigarettes – exceeding the standard of capacity and nicotine
The e-cigarettes detained by the service did not meet statutory requirements. According to the regulations, the capacity of disposable e-cigarettes must not exceed 2 ml and the nicotine content should not exceed 20 mg/ml. In the case of products retained, the capacity of disposable devices was as advanced as 22 and 23 ml, meaning that the permissible standard was exceeded more than 10 times. In addition, the liquid nicotine content was 50 mg/ml, which was more than twice the allowed limit.
Penalties threatening the carriage of illegal e-cigarettes
A Ukrainian citizen who carried illegal e-cigarettes was detained by the service. For this kind of crime, he is facing a fine of up to PLN 200 000, a punishment of regulation of freedom or both. Further activities are being carried out by the police under the supervision of the territory Attorney's Office in Zamość.
Case law and legislation
In the context of specified serious infringements concerning the marketing of tobacco products, it is worth recalling the applicable legislation. According to the Tobacco Products Act of 9 November 2018, e-cigarettes and nicotine liquids which do not meet the required standards are prohibited. In accordance with Article 49 of that Act, persons who carry tobacco products which do not comply with the statutory requirements may be fined, punished with restrictions on freedom, and, in the event of repeated offences, punished with imprisonment.
Summary
Stopping a bus full of illegal e-cigarettes in Zamość is another example of how serious trafficking in these products is. The carriage of e-cigarettes which do not comply with statutory requirements entails serious legal and financial consequences. A detained driver may face trial, and if proven guilty, he may face a advanced fine or even imprisonment.
Such detentions are a signal to all those active in the illicit trade in tobacco products that taxation and customs services are constantly monitoring the market, and any effort to marketplace illegal goods is taken very seriously.
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Counterband for PLN 5 million: A bus from Ukraine full of illegal e-cigarettes was detained in Zamość
