Over 22,800 cigarettes hidden in checked baggage and undeclared upon entry into the country, discovered at Otopeni Airport

Border police officers at Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest, working alongside customs officials, have intercepted a significant quantity of undeclared cigarettes carried by three Romanian nationals arriving from Istanbul.

The individuals — two men and one woman aged between 21 and 55 — were selected for inspection after proceeding through the “nothing to declare” channel following baggage collection.

During detailed checks, officers discovered hidden quantities of cigarettes of various brands in their checked luggage. All products originated from outside the European Union and had not been declared.

A total of 22,807 cigarettes were seized, vastly exceeding the limits permitted under EU customs regulations.

The entire quantity has been detained by customs authorities, and border police have launched a criminal investigation into attempted smuggling. Legal proceedings will follow once the investigation is complete.