An illegal tobacco factory has been uncovered in Latvia after a large shipment of smuggled cigarettes was intercepted in Lithuania in October, the Customs Criminal Service said on December 20.
On October 18, the service’s officers in Klaipeda seized nearly half a million packs of illicit cigarettes. Valued at around 3 million euros, the cigarettes were hidden in a truck supposedly carrying disposable plastic dishes to France.
The Mercedes-Benz truck carrying the contraband was driven by a Russian citizen.
Subsequently, in cooperation with the Lithuanian Customs, Latvian law enforcement officials uncovered an illegal tobacco factory and warehouse in Riga and Ludza. They seized 15 million packs of cigarettes and 47 tons of raw tobacco, detaining 32 people.
The Customs Criminal Service noted in a press release that the recent busts in Lithuania and Latvia highlighted shifting smuggling trends. With tightened customs controls in place at Lithuania’s borders, illegal cigarettes are increasingly being brought in large quantities from neighbouring EU countries.
The activity of “shadow” tobacco factories has also intensified. Within the EU, 75 such factories were uncovered in 2022, 68 in 2023 and 41 during the first three quarters of this year, according to the press release. (LRT)