Authorities have seized 20 million cigarettes and 38.4 tonnes of tobacco leaf and cut tobacco after dismantling two international criminal networks based in Spain.
European countries, together with the EU's anti-fraud office (OLAF) and Europol, dismantled a multimillion-euro illicit cigarette supply chain, targeting groups suspected of manufacturing, distributing and trafficking counterfeit tobacco products worth an estimated €10 million, OLAF said in a press release.
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Last month, officers carried out 23 searches at homes, commercial premises and industrial warehouses across the Spanish provinces of Alicante, Cuenca, Huelva, Murcia, Sevilla and Toledo.
Investigators also confiscated 18 vehicles, tobacco manufacturing equipment, encrypted electronic devices, €170,000 in cash and several firearms. A total of 50 people were arrested, including two suspects who have since been handed over to the Polish authorities.
The operation brought together Spain's Guardia Civil, Poland's Central Bureau of Investigation, Portugal's National Republican Guard, Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau, OLAF and Europol.
"Smoking is dangerous," OLAF chief Petr Klement said. "Smoking counterfeit cigarettes is even worse."
"On top of the harm to health, every illicit cigarette robs taxpayers and rewards organised crime," he added.
OLAF said that the investigations remain ongoing.
