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The Panevėžys Regional Court has delivered a verdict in a criminal case, finding R. Butylkinas guilty of the illegal possession of a large quantity of excise goods – cigarettes – and sentencing him to a fine of €19,700.

According to the case files, in violation of the Law on Excise Duty and other legal acts, R. Butylkinas illegally stored excise goods – 30,000 packs of "Marlboro" cigarettes – in a rented garage in the Rokiškis district. The cigarettes were not marked with the special duty stamps (banderols) of the pattern established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

The total value of the illegally held cigarettes, including mandatory taxes, was determined to be €133,854. This amount is nearly three times the 900 MSL (Minimum Standard of Living) threshold of €45,000, thus meeting the criteria for a serious crime as defined by law.

The accused, R. Butylkinas, was detained on February 3, 2025, while attempting to load 4 boxes of cigarettes into a car. His initial testimony was consistent – he claimed to have purchased all 60 boxes of cigarettes (a total of 30,000 packs), paid a €15,000 advance, and intended to pay the remainder later. In subsequent interrogations, the accused changed his testimony, claiming he had purchased only 15 boxes for himself as an "investment for a possible difficult period," while an unknown person named Rimas had asked him to temporarily look after the remaining 45 boxes.

After examining all the evidence collected in the case, the Panevėžys Regional Court rejected R. Butylkinas's later testimony due to its inconsistency and contradiction with the factual material of the case.

The court noted that the defendant's version regarding the 45 boxes allegedly kept for "Rimas" was implausible. In the court's assessment, by changing his testimony, R. Butylkinas sought to reduce his criminal liability.

"It is more than obvious that the accused R. Butylkinas revealed the true circumstances of the acquisition of all 60 boxes of illegal cigarettes, nor the persons from whom he purchased these cigarettes, neither during the investigation nor in court; this remained undetermined during the investigation," stated the presiding judge, Valdas Meidus.

In determining R. Butylkinas's guilt, the court relied on the testimony of police officers, the defendant's initial written explanation, and search protocols confirming that he was in possession of all 30,000 packs of cigarettes.

The accused, R. Butylkinas, who had no prior convictions, was found guilty of committing a serious intentional crime. Considering his character, the lack of severe financial hardship, and the fact that this was his first trial, the court imposed a fine of 400 MSL, which, after accounting for time spent in detention, amounts to 394 MSL (€19,700).

The verdict of the Panevėžys Regional Court may be appealed to the Lithuanian Court of Appeal within 20 days.

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