SMUGGLING VIA LITHUANIAN EU EXTERNAL BORDER

Transcription

1 SMUGGLING VIA LITHUANIAN EU EXTERNAL BORDER CURRENT SITUATION, TRENDS, COUNTERACTIONS Brussels

2 Outline of the presentation Threats of cigarette smuggling Results of the fight against smuggling Are there any side effects of the efficient fight against cigarette smuggling? How do we deal with the threats How to enhance cooperation at the EU Eastern Borders Ideas for further improvement, counteractions

3 Smuggling and illegal transportation routes Counterfeit cigarettes from China From the Russian Federation From Kaliningrad Region From Republic of Belarus Reduced quantities of seized cigarettes Jin Ling Increased number of seized cigarettes produced in Belorussia

4 Price differences between the EU and third countries is the accelerator of smuggling Cigarette smuggling is among the most lucrative types of smuggling. Having acquired legitimately manufactured tobacco products in the third countries (predominantly Belarus and Russia) and having illegally sold them on the EU market generated profits reach up to %.

5 Results of the fight against smuggling Cigarettes seized by Lithuanian Customs: million cigarettes seized in million cigarettes seized in million cigarettes seized in large scale organized criminal groups were detected and arrested in 2011 by the Customs Criminal Service; 70 tons of raw tobacco seized in 2011

6 Example 12 special operations conducted In Customs Criminal Service conducted a covert investigation on cigarette smuggling from the third countries to the customs territory of the European Union. 9 pretrial investigations commenced in Lithuanian, 3 pretrial investigations commenced in other countries (Belarus, Germany and Poland) ~ pieces of smuggled cigarettes (Jin Ling, Viceroy, Imperial Classic) seized 50 persons of the said criminal group have been prosecuted for cigarette smuggling and possession of the latter in Lithuania, Poland and Germany 8 customs officers are officially suspected of bribery Investigations in Lithuania, Poland and Germany were coordinated by OLAF 6

7 Side effects of the efficiency Effects of the investments into the fight against cigarette smuggling: - the fight becomes more efficient - more cigarettes are seized - more investigations are initiated - spending increases at the national level Seized cigarettes are different from other types of seized goods, cigarettes have to be destroyed More seized cigarettes = more spending for customs (transportation, warehousing, destruction, overtime pay) euro is the annual spending of Lithuanian Customs for maintenance of the F type warehouse

8 To be deployed in 2013 To be deployed in 2013 Since July, 2012 Since January, 2012

9 LAN CUSTOMS OFFICER SERVER (BLACK LIST) CUSTOMS OFFICER

10 COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES AT NATIONAL LEVEL. JOINT CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE AND RISK ANALYSIS A Permanent Task Force of the National Law Enforcement Authorities under the coordination of the Governmental Commission Customs is the coordinating Authority in fight against Illegal distribution and smuggling of excise goods COMMONLY SHARED: Border Guards national data basis; electronic tools for risk analysis, early warning and identification of concrete targets; daily incident reports Financial Crime Investigation Service Customs Police

11 Regional Joint Customs operations VIA BALTICA is a part of the development of cooperation between customs services of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in the fight against smuggling of tobacco products Baltic Sea Task Force on organised crime a platform for facilitating cooperation of Law Enforcement agencies fighting organised crime in the Baltic Sea Region (including Russia, EUROPOL, Commission) Interlinked Numberplates recognition systems of Baltic states customs (2013) common database of vehicles number plates and container codes, possibility to trigger the alarm independent of where the border (external or internal) is being crossed and to receive InfoAlerts on on-line basis E67

12 COOPERATION AT EU AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL CUSTOMS OTHER LA AUTHORITIES DG TAXUD DG HOME DG HOME WCO Customs LOs Police, Immigration LOs CCWP

13 Finalizing remarks Main factors contributing to the efficiency of the fight against smuggling: - human resources - equipment - IT solutions (software & hardware) - national, regional and international cooperation - financial resources There are two different types of the customs activities in the fight against smuggling: - customs controls at the borders and inside the territory - investigations, surveillances, undercover operations To increase the efficiency of the fight against smuggling customs administration needs: -to increase the number of equipment, regularly update the equipment and IT; -to enhance customs cooperation with EU Member States and third countries; -to increase the number and capacity of staff, to train and motivate the staff, to increase resistance to corruption; -to ensure sufficient funding for the increasing administration costs.

14 Ideas for further improvement, counteractions Specialized funding program dedicated for acquisition of customs control equipment (also sharing maintenance costs), which would grant the funding based on EU-wide equipment gap analysis and threat assessment Specially allocated financing of campaigns dedicated to raise social awareness and intolerance to contraband and usage of smuggled goods

15 Thank you for your attention Vygantas Paigozinas Deputy Director General Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania