Illegal cigarette factory uncovered in Riga — 18 Ukrainian and Moldovan citizens detained
The Tax and Customs Police have shut down a full-cycle illegal cigarette factory in Riga where 18 illegally employed foreign nationals were working. The damage to Latvian and EU economic interests amounts to several million euros.
Illegal cigarette factory in Riga dismantled — 18 people detained
The Tax and Customs Police have shut down a full-cycle illegal cigarette factory in Riga — the second such facility discovered in active operation this year, according to TVNET. Eighteen people were detained in the operation, predominantly Ukrainian and Moldovan nationals; all of them have been placed in custody as a security measure.
When the inspection team arrived, the production equipment was still operating, and the people inside attempted to flee, ignoring the police's lawful orders. With the support of the State Police, all individuals involved were detained at the scene.
Equipment and raw materials
The factory contained extensive industrial equipment: a tobacco shredder, dryer and cutter, a device for checking shredded tobacco quality, two cigarette production lines — for thin and standard cigarettes — as well as packaging lines for packs and blocks. All necessary raw materials were found on site: tobacco, filters, glue, foil and film.
The illegally manufactured products imitated both European and Belarusian brands — Marlboro, Winston, NZ, Minsk, Davidoff and Parliament. Counterfeit Belarusian excise stamps were affixed to the fake Belarusian cigarettes, thereby deceiving consumers and law enforcement authorities.
The illegally employed individuals also had sleeping quarters arranged in the factory.
Larger scale than in Grobina
The tobacco stockpile discovered at the Riga facility exceeds that which was found in June of this year at the previously dismantled illegal factory in Grobina. This is thus the largest case of its kind uncovered by the Tax and Customs Police in the current year.
The total damage to Latvian and European Union economic interests has been assessed at several million euros.
Methods of concealing the crime
According to preliminary information, the criminal group used vehicles with forged state registration plates and mechanically damaged VIN numbers for logistics purposes, in order to complicate tracing.
Investigators note that the discovery confirms previously obtained operational intelligence: that cigarettes allegedly of Belarusian origin are also being produced within the European Union itself. This means that the actual volume of counterfeits in Europe is higher, while the quantity of cigarettes smuggled in by contraband routes is lower, than indicated in international studies on illegal cigarette distribution.
Criminal proceedings initiated
The Tax and Customs Police have initiated criminal proceedings under the third part of Article 221 of the Criminal Law on suspected illegal manufacture of tobacco products. Pre-trial investigation continues; detailed information is not being released at present in the interests of the investigation.
In accordance with Article 19 of the Criminal Procedure Law, no person shall be considered guilty until their guilt has been established in the manner prescribed by law.
Source: TVNET