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In a major operation against the black market tobacco industry in Germany, law enforcement authorities have delivered a significant blow to an organized criminal group operating an illegal cigarette production facility.
The clandestine factory, located in Brilon, Sauerland, was discovered by customs investigators and was believed to have been in operation since spring 2023.
The coordinated raids, which took place across 20 locations in the Sauerland, Ruhr, and Rhineland regions, resulted in the confiscation of over 26 million illegally manufactured cigarettes and seven tons of tobacco and raw materials. The public prosecutor’s office in Bochum, which is leading the investigation, estimated the tax evasion damage to exceed five million euros.
This underground network is suspected of distributing counterfeit cigarettes throughout Germany and across Europe, circumventing the significant tax contributions legitimate sales would generate. Thirteen suspects have been placed under investigative detention following the operation, highlighting the seriousness of the offense and the commitment of German authorities to dismantle such illicit operations.
The multi-agency task force, including Europol, various customs offices, the federal police, and local Dortmund police, supported by the Technical Relief Agency, was instrumental in uncovering the scale of this illegal enterprise. It is reported that the production facility in Brilon had the capacity to produce up to ten million cigarettes weekly.
With the investigation ongoing and the involvement of Europol, it underscores the international ramifications of such criminal activities. The swift action of the courts in Bochum, which ordered the suspects into custody, indicates the gravity of the situation and the potential broader implications for the illegal tobacco market in Europe.
