A Case Study on the Investigation of Serious Organised Crime on the Danube
A Case Study on the Investigation of Serious Organised Crime on the Danube

Summary/Abstract: On the 11th of October in 2021, about 2.8 million boxes (i.e. 57 million pieces) of untaxed cigarettes were seized by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (hereinafter: NTCA) from a Ukrainian barge in the town of Paks and on the next day in a warehouse in Pest county. The confiscated cargo was hidden in rock salt sling-bags. Four perpetrators have beenarrested during this HUF 5.5 billion value case, which is an unprecedented detection in the history of Hungarian Customs related to cigarette smuggling.The organised group of Hungarian citizens of Ukrainian origin caused almost HUF 4 billion in damage to the budget through the fraud of VAT and excise duties. During the operation, three persons were caught red-handed and thefourth suspect was captured by Customs Officers during the escape. All of them were detained, and the court ordered their arrest.The NTCA was investigating suspected budget fraud and money laundering. The perpetrators could face up to 20 years in prison.The international aspects of the operation were coordinated by Europol under international criminal and judicial cooperation.Thanks to the great analytical work done by customs investigators, a network of companies was uncovered and an invoicingchain was established, which, through international cooperation, led to Polish, Czech, Romanian and Ukrainian companies. It hasbeen revealed that they, not for the first time, benefited from this method. But was the unravelling of the case a complete success,or were there mistakes that could weaken the security of the Danube River? In the light of this case study, what are the possibilitiesfor further developing international cooperation on the Danube?

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