newsweek.ro/actualitate/contrabanda-cu-tigari-in-r

In the first nine months of 2026, Romanian police seized nearly 70 million contraband cigarettes and over 9.8 tons of tobacco. Sixteen criminal groups were dismantled, and hundreds are under investigation for smuggling and tax evasion. A total of 372 operations were conducted, resulting in 704 identified offenses and 765 individuals investigated. The total fines exceeded 8.1 million lei. Significant seizures included over 280,000 cigarettes and an unlicensed firearm in Iași, and approximately 900,000 improperly marked cigarettes in Galați, with total confiscated goods valued at around 750,000 lei.