An incredible amount of excise goods (cigarettes and alcohol) was discovered by financial investigators from the Enforcement Directorate of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV), based on a risk analysis conducted by tax inspectors of the Hajdú-Bihar County Tax and Customs Directorate.
The tax inspectors’ analysis revealed that large quantities of alcohol and cigarettes were allegedly being sold from an apartment in Debrecen. Posing as unsuspecting customers, the inspectors ordered one liter of homemade pálinka from the 46-year-old man. After the transaction was completed, financial investigators who had been waiting nearby arrived and began searching the property with two service dogs, Sherry and Tesco. The dogs alerted officers already in the garage and later again in the basement.
During the search, officers found cigarettes without Hungarian excise stamps, cut smoking tobacco, and alcohol products of unknown origin stored in plastic containers and barrels at several locations throughout the house. The uniformed officers also searched a vehicle parked in front of the property, where they found additional alcohol products without Hungarian excise stamps.
A total of 26,286 packs of various brands of cigarettes without Hungarian excise stamps, more than 10 kilograms of cut smoking tobacco, and 285 liters of alcohol of unknown origin were seized from the house. Not only the quantity but also the explanation surprised the financial investigators. The man claimed he was keeping the massive stockpile at home due to the global situation, saying it could serve as an emergency reserve if needed; at the same time, he admitted that he had been continuously selling from the stock.
The value of the seized goods exceeds 73 million forints. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on suspicion of violations of excise laws and budget fraud. The perpetrator may face a fine of more than 100 million forints.
(NAV)
