The customs revenue collection for the first quarter reached 281.64 million euros, an increase of 24.6 million euros or 9.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

The revenue target was surpassed by 13.45 million euros, which is a five percent increase.

“The Customs Administration made a notable advancement in customs revenue collection from January to March, positively impacting the overall budget revenue,” stated the report.

Value Added Tax (VAT) from imports totaled 191.17 million euros, which represents an increase of 18.88 million euros or 11 percent from last year.

“Excise duties brought in 75.3 million euros, marking an increase of 2.97 million euros or four percent compared to the same period last year,” the report detailed.

Customs duties collected amounted to 14.47 million euros, an increase of 2.67 million euros or 22.5 percent. Coffee tax collection reached 616.9 thousand euros, while other revenues totaled 85.92 thousand euros.

In March alone, the total customs revenue collection came to 104.2 million euros, which is 7.04 million euros or 7.2 percent higher than the previous year.

The Customs Administration is ramping up its inspection efforts to combat smuggling and ensure legal trade, having conducted 24.3 thousand detailed checks of vehicles and goods in the first quarter.

“During these checks, 109 irregularities were discovered, leading to the issuance of 107 misdemeanor warrants and fines totaling 76.8 thousand euros. Smuggled goods worth 264.43 thousand euros were confiscated, and in six instances, cash was temporarily seized, amounting to a total of 180.09 thousand euros and 60.81 thousand USD,” the report stated.

The Customs Administration, both independently and in collaboration with other state authorities, submitted a total of ten criminal reports to the relevant prosecutor’s office.

The seized goods included tobacco products — cigarettes, cigarillos, and cut tobacco valued at 95.2 thousand euros, along with alcohol and carbonated beverages worth 2.49 thousand euros.

Ten misdemeanor warrants were issued due to the seizure of excise goods.

Additionally, two pistols, two air rifles, 1.08 thousand rounds of pistol ammunition, and two thousand rounds for air rifles were also confiscated.

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