The anti-robbery brigade of the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone found a total of 6,498 counterfeit cigarette packets of a well-known brand during the inspection of a van on Monday, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office said on Friday.
"The van caught the eye of the patrol at Boulevard du Neuvième de Ligne because of its driving behaviour," said the Public Prosecutor. "At Place Sainctelette, the patrol decided to stop the van."
The driver and his passenger were behaving nervously and were checked. The passenger was in possession of €3,500 in cash. In the cargo compartment of the vehicle, cardboard boxes were found containing a total of 6,498 packets of cigarettes, "presumably counterfeits of a well-known brand."
Both suspects gave unclear explanations about the presence of the large number of cigarettes, and were taken to the police station for further interrogation. The money and cigarettes were seized and the van was towed.
"The suspects, no strangers to the police, were released after questioning," the Prosecutor's Office continued.
The investigation is still ongoing.
