BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 19. Azerbaijan's Main
Customs Department for Excise Goods has detected 1,072 violations
since the beginning of 2026, according to department official
Orkhan Sultanov, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.
Speaking to journalists during a media tour of the department,
Sultanov said the Operations and Investigation Department
identified four criminal cases and 1,068 administrative offenses
between Jan. 1 and mid-June.
According to Sultanov, the criminal cases included three
incidents involving the illegal circulation of cigarettes that were
required to carry excise markings but did not, as well as one case
involving the discovery of diamond rings totaling 308.30 carats
that were not declared to customs authorities.
Customs officials also uncovered 73,840 unmarked cigarettes
during the reporting period, he said.
Authorities imposed a total of 97,169.80 manats ($57,000) in
fines for customs violations. Of that amount, 81,146.35 manats
(about $47,733) have been collected, while materials related to 64
cases have been forwarded to the courts for further
consideration.
Sultanov also outlined the volume of excise-taxed goods
processed during the period.
Customs authorities assessed excise taxes on approximately 3.5
million liters of energy drinks, 4.44 million liters of alcoholic
beverages, 59.45 million tobacco products, 18,928 kilograms of
hookah tobacco, and 141.4 million tobacco-containing or
reconstituted tobacco sticks.
In addition, 24,783 passenger vehicles were subject to excise
tax, including 6,815 hybrid vehicles, 482 fully electric vehicles,
2,526 diesel-powered vehicles, and 14,960 gasoline-powered
vehicles.
The department also processed 2,641 freight vehicles, 723
semi-truck tractors, 590 trailers, and 1,960 other vehicles subject
to excise taxation, Sultanov said.
