In news that will impact the UK illicit tobacco market, last week, the Latvian State Police (Valsts policija), in cooperation with the Latvian State Border Guard (Valsts robežsardze), carried out a large-scale operation to dismantle a criminal network involved in illegal tobacco production, Europol reports.
Officers discovered a massive illegal cigarette manufacturing site, equipped with production machinery and raw materials. The operation led to the detention of 32 people and the seizure of nearly 300 million cigarettes and approximately 47 tonnes of shredded tobacco leaves. If these had entered the Latvian market, the estimated financial loss to the state would have exceeded EUR 75m.
Searches were conducted simultaneously at multiple locations. The State Police carried out 26 searches in Riga, discovering warehouses containing cigarettes and detaining seven individuals. Meanwhile, the State Border Guard carried out eight searches in Ludza, Rēzekne and Daugavpils, detaining 25 Ukrainian nationals at the Ludza factory, where counterfeit cigarettes were being manufactured under well-known brand names.
The investigation was supported by Europol, which provided analytical support to the authorities involved. Europol also organised operational meetings and provided remote support during the searches. The Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service (Muitinės kriminalinė tarnyba) also supported the investigation.
Several criminal cases related to illegal tobacco production and money laundering have been initiated by Latvian authorities as a follow-up to the operation. Prior to the raids, several individuals linked to the network’s criminal activities and involved in laundering illicit funds in Latvia were detained.
The extensive operation by Latvian authorities to dismantle the illegal cigarette factory has been documented in a comprehensive video.
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