Tobacco maker British American Tobacco (BAT) Romania announced a new donation of equipment to the Romanian Border Police, consisting of 150 License Plate Recognition cameras and an image storage unit intended to strengthen the response capacity of this structure in the surveillance of state borders, especially in the context of Romania's joining the Schengen Area.
"In Romania, April 21 marks the National Day against Illegal Goods Trafficking, an important moment to raise awareness of the severe impact of smuggling on economic development and communities. The legitimate industry has an essential role in supporting the authorities' efforts to combat this phenomenon, by providing expertise and investments in technology, capable of stopping illicit trafficking," the cigarette manufacturer said in a statement.
"Providing law enforcement authorities with the necessary equipment in the fight against illicit trade is essential, as it increases their capacity to detect, investigate and prevent illegal activities such as smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion. Advanced technology such as scanners, surveillance and data analysis systems arm the authorities with the necessary means to combat criminal networks whose illegal scheming diversity often has just imagination as the limit. We remain a reliable partner in supporting the efforts of the Romanian Border Police, whose remarkable results in combating illicit trafficking contribute to economic stability, public safety and the consolidation of a safer business environment," Ileana Dumitru, Legal and External Affairs Director for the Southeastern Europe Area, BAT, said in the release.
In his turn, Romanian Border Police Inspector General, Chief Police Quaestor Cornel Laurian Stoica, emphasized that in the first three months of this year, border police officers impounded for confiscation approximately 10 million smuggled cigarettes worth over RON 7.5 million, as well as significant amounts of tobacco.
According to official data, illicit cigarette trafficking causes the Romanian state approximately RON 2 billion in losses every year, which represents the equivalent of 500 km of modernized national road.
Romania shares 2,000 km of border with non-EU countries, where the price of tobacco can be up to three times lower. At the same time, each container of illegal cigarettes means 1 million euros in profit for the smuggling networks. Interpol data shows that illicit cigarette trafficking is a catalyst for drug, weapons and human trafficking, and even terrorist activities.
According to a Novel Research survey, in 2024 Romania's black market hit a four-year high of 9% of the total market. For comparison, in 2023 the annual average of smuggling was 8.2%, up by more than one percentage point compared to the previous year.
Also, in the first part of 2025, the black market topped the threshold of 10% of total consumption, compared to 9.1% in November 2024. By the origin of the products on the illicit market, duty free outlets hold the highest share (35.2%), followed by Bulgaria - with 32%. AGERPRES
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