Prison for Macedonian Cigarette Smuggling Boss

The court found him guilty of organising a tobacco smuggling chain, breaking ownership rights and avoiding taxes.

32 of Sejdiu’s associates were also sentenced to jail today. His closest associates, Remzi Ramadani and Naim Seteri, were each sentenced to four years in prison.

Only one person, one of Sejdiu’s relatives, was acquitted on all charges.

The police busted Sejdiu and other members of the smuggling ring in a massive operation dubbed “Ash” back in October 2008. Sejdiu was known to the public as the owner of several properties near the northeastern town of Kumanovo, including several motels and a soccer club called Milano.

In relation to the case, the police force in Kumanovo underwent a massive restructuring.

The defense claimed that Sejdiu was innocent and that he had been framed by the police in an attempt to show that the they were seriously fighting organised crime.

Along with the prison sentence the court decided to confiscate over €5 five million that Sejdiu had transferred to other companies.