On January 12th, more than 60 officers from the French National Gendarmerie conducted a surprise search of a location and discovered an underground counterfeit tobacco factory in France. The investigation was initiated based on information shared between the European Criminal Police Organization and France at the end of 2022.
Last week, French officials arrested nine suspects, most of whom were Moldovan nationals, in a raid. Gendarmes discovered a quasi-industrial set-up used for mass production of counterfeit cigarettes. Three separate areas were found in the targeted factory, with one dedicated to processing raw tobacco material to produce boxed cigarettes with well-known brand labels for legal markets. Another area was used for storage of large quantities of counterfeit cigarettes. The third area was designated as a living space for workers, with around 15 beds, a kitchen, and a living room. This allowed the workers to reside within the factory and remain completely isolated from the outside world.
During a surprise inspection, law enforcement officials seized over 100 tons of illegal products, including 55 tons of boxed cigarettes (equivalent to 19.4 million cigarettes and 15 tons of tobacco), 50 tons of packaging materials such as paper, filters, and labels, as well as 18 tons of waste produced during the cigarette manufacturing process. The estimated value of the confiscated tobacco was approximately 17 million euros. Additionally, officials confiscated vehicles, factory machinery, and electronic equipment. The confiscated food included over one ton of food, which was later donated to a food bank. The seized tobacco and counterfeit products have since been destroyed.
The European law enforcement agency facilitated information exchange and provided specialized analysis support. On the day of the operation, the agency cross-checked operational information from their database in real-time and provided clues to on-site investigators to support French authorities.
In 2020, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation established the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) to enhance collaboration between economic and financial investigations and strengthen its support for law enforcement agencies' ability to effectively combat major criminal threats.
The headquarters of the European Police Office is located in The Hague, Netherlands and it supports 27 European Union member states in combating terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious forms of organized crime. The European Police Office also collaborates with many non-EU partner countries and international organizations. From threat assessments to intelligence gathering and operational activities, it possesses the necessary tools and resources to play a role in making Europe safer.
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