Kakavijë: Contraband cigarette cartons found in Athens–Tirana bus; investigations launched against customs officers

Economic Crime officers at the Gjirokastër Local Police Directorate have uncovered a large quantity of contraband cigarettes hidden in the bus of the Athens–Tirana line.

The incident occurred in the early hours of this morning in Kakavijë, when the passenger-line bus running the Tirana–Athens–Tirana route was caught at the exit of the Kakavijë Customs, exposing the shift’s customs officers, who appear to have allowed the large quantity of cigarette contraband to enter Albanian territory.

It is reported that around 90 cartons of cigarettes were hidden in sealed concealed compartments in various parts of the bus. Among them, several bags of clothes without purchase invoice and customs clearance.

As a result, the driver and the other person responsible on the bus have been criminally prosecuted, while the arrest of two shift customs officers and the shift supervisor is expected after the initial actions are completed, such as reviewing footage from the customs cameras, seizures, and phone examinations.