site.btaCustoms Officers Seize Over 356,000 Cigarettes and 280 kg of Tobacco in Major International Operation

Bulgarian customs officers seized more than 356,000 cigarettes, 287 kg of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and plant protection products during the large-scale international operation NOXIA II, led by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the Bulgarian Customs Agency reported on Tuesday.

Between February 10 and 21, 2025, customs officials carried out 189 inspections at Bulgaria’s external EU land borders, seaports, and airports, resulting in the seizure of 356,380 cigarettes, 287.45 kg of tobacco, 96 e-cigarettes, and 84 litres of pesticides.

The OLAF-coordinated operation involved customs administrations from 40 partner countries in Asia and Europe under the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), with support from the World Customs Organization (WCO). NOXIA II facilitated real-time information exchange on suspicious shipments to detect and intercept illicit goods, while also strengthening international cooperation against global smuggling.

Participating countries included 17 from the Asia-Pacific region (such as Australia, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam) and 22 EU member states, including Bulgaria, Germany, France, and Spain, as well as the United Kingdom.

Across all participating countries, the operation resulted in the seizure of 149.5 million cigarettes, over 3,000 tonnes of illegal waste, 66.5 kg of pseudoephedrine, 52 tonnes of solid pesticides, and 21,000 litres of liquid pesticides. Over 105 tonnes of tobacco and 223,000 e-cigarettes were also confiscated, preventing the distribution of large quantities of illegal and unregulated products.

According to OLAF, NOXIA II exposed key smuggling routes for cigarettes and other contraband between Asia and Europe. The agency noted that the operation’s completion marks not an end, but a continuation of information-sharing among investigative experts coordinated by OLAF to combat cross-border trafficking.