International cigarette trafficking ring dismantled: 15 arrests

Eurojust, Europol and authorities from 10 countries stopped a criminal group operating an intricate cigarette trafficking scheme. The authorities discovered a Polish group active in cigarette trafficking and investigations connected a counterfeit cigarette factory in France to another international criminal group involved in the operation. Fifteen suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning in a joint operation involving five countries.

The group was discovered after they were caught importing large quantities of tobacco into the country without notifying customs authorities. The tobacco imported by the criminal group was concealed as waste tobacco. After entering the European Union, it was transported to customs warehouses in Belgium, Spain and Italy, from where it was taken to Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands to be produced and sold as cigarettes. French authorities discovered that illegal tobacco was entering the country hidden in magazines.

The authorities soon discovered that the cigarette production plants scattered across Europe were connected. Investigations revealed that the same criminal organisation was responsible for setting up these factories. The group ran a sophisticated operation through multiple entities. One in Bulgaria was responsible for transporting non-tobacco materials such as filters, papers and adhesives to Greece and Italy. Another entity in Poland specialised in the logistics and transport of the tobacco and counterfeit cigarettes. The group recruited individuals across Europe, including high-value targets with extensive criminal records.

To dismantle the operation, a joint investigation team was set up involving French, Italian and Polish authorities at Eurojust. Throughout the investigation, the authorities were able to intercept several shipments of illegally cut tobacco, totalling more than 50 000 kg. In the meantime, several production lines were taken down and millions of counterfeit cigarettes were seized. The value of goods seized during the operation is estimated at EUR 13 million.

The dismantling of the cigarette trafficking network culminated in a joint operation in six countries on 19 November, and continued in France on November 20. 15 suspects were arrested, 2 in Bulgaria, 4 France, 1 in Germany, 4 in Greece and 4 in Poland. Searches in Italy resulted in the seizure of EUR 46 000, mobile phones, documentation and tobacco.

Coordination between the authorities through Eurojust and Europol was crucial to the success of the operation. The joint investigation team set up at Eurojust ensured that evidence and information could be exchanged and joint operations carried out.