Over the past fifteen years, the South East Europe has been strongly affected by smuggling of highly taxed goods such as cigarettes and fuel, as well as by the counterfeit and pirated goods involving transiting through all member countries. In many cases huge quantities of counterfeit cigarettes have departed from China and arrived to the seaports in the region. Trucks and vessels are mostly used to move the contraband consignments throughout the region and cover loads are usually employed by smugglers.
Beverages, cigarettes, textiles, mobile phones and their accessories, bags and leather articles, shoes and cosmetics were the most seized counterfeit goods during 2005-2006. Import and transit schemes are most used for smuggling counterfeit and pirated goods in South East Europe.
