Polish-Czech operations against the tobacco mafia

Officers from the Border Guard Post in Jelenia Góra and the Czech customs services from Hradec Kralove, coordinated by Europol, dismantled an organized criminal group that was distributing illegal tobacco on a large scale on the territory of the Czech Republic. In connection with this case, four Polish citizens and a Czech citizen were detained.

The group was discovered by Border Guard officers from Jelenia Góra, who, during a search of the warehouse, revealed and secured parcels of tobacco and cards containing several hundred addresses, as it turned out later, of recipients of illegal tobacco in the Czech Republic.

Members of the group used legal courier companies registered in Poland and the Czech Republic to distribute tobacco. Tobacco obtained from Poland and Germany went to the Czech Republic, where it was further distributed. Czech services estimate that this practice had lasted for at least two years, and during that time the group distributed goods worth 150 million Czech crowns (25.5 million zlotys).

During searches of various storage locations, investigators revealed and secured parcels ready for shipment and over 1,100 kg of illegal tobacco. CZK 840,000, PLN 7.7 thousand and GBP 1,000 were also secured. In addition to cash, the services secured several dozen payment cards issued under various Polish names. These people’s bank accounts could be used for transactions carried out by members of the group.

In connection with this case, four residents of the Lubuskie Voivodeship and a Czech citizen were detained in the territory of Poland and the Czech Republic. The Czech court applied temporary arrest against the Czech and two Poles detained at our southern neighbors.

The members of the group face high fines and imprisonment for up to 10 years.