ROMOLUK 3: Ukraine, Moldova and Romania conduct joint customs operation
This summer, the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine, with support from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), coordinated a joint customs operation, ROMOLUK 3.
The operation connected customs authorities from Ukraine, Moldova and Romania through real-time information exchange, coordinated risk profiling and aligned controls, and
helped the three state customs authorities turn separate national controls into a coordinated regional response.
The operation led to two large seizures.
One took place on 30 June when a refrigerated truck carrying “fresh strawberries” approached the Mamalyha-Criva border crossing point on its way from Ukraine to Moldova.
Customs officers discovered 357,000 packs of Ritm cigarettes without excise stamps concealed inside. The consignment was worth an estimated €290,000-€385,000.
Less than a month later, on 25 July, officers detected structural anomalies in another truck at the same crossing point. Its tanker was declared empty. A detailed inspection revealed 105,000 packs of cigarettes hidden inside, valued at approximately €85,000.
Across 25 major interventions, officers seized more than 9.4 million cigarettes. They also intercepted over one tonne of other tobacco products, 2,200 heated tobacco sticks and 3.25kg of waterpipe tobacco.
The operation also uncovered undeclared cash equivalent to €672,650, alongside chemicals and toxic substances, alcohol, two weapons and two luxury watches.
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