A criminal group consisting of 22 members, 14 of whom are Moldovan citizens, involved in the clandestine production of cigarettes on the territory of the Czech Republic that caused damage of about 120 million euros to the European Union budget has been broken up, the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) reports on Thursday, October 19, noting that the operation took place within the framework of international cooperation.

According to an SIS press release, since the crime was committed in the Czech Republic, Moldovan citizens will be tried in that country.

“Thus, SIS officers and PCCOCS prosecutors announce the conduct of a large-scale operation with the Czech authorities, which led to the arrest of 14 Moldovan citizens, following the seizure of almost 17,700,000 clandestinely produced cigarettes and over 11,000 kg of tobacco on the territory of the European state. The counterfeit cigarettes were produced in the Czech Republic and subsequently delivered to various countries of the European Union (Germany, Romania, Poland, France, etc.).

The operation was carried out by SIS officers who provided operational support in intelligence gathering, PCCOCS prosecutors, EUBAM Mission experts, the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Border Police and customs officers from the Investigation Section of the General Customs Directorate of the Czech Republic.

In addition to the searches carried out at the end of June 2023, 30,000 euros in cash, funds in bank accounts, a car worth 100 thousand euros and a truck as a means of committing the crime were seized. Raids were also carried out in Moldova at the premises of the suspects, where additional evidence of their criminal activities was obtained, including draft notes, parts for cigarette production machinery, a matrix for the application of the inscription on cigarettes, mobile phones, €15,000 in cash, a luxury car worth €80,000 and a weapon,” the statement said.

According to SIS, the clandestine cigarette factory was located in the Česká Lípa region of the Czech Republic. On the spot, several clandestine lines were seized that were carrying out the counterfeiting process (crumbling, tobacco fermentation, production, filter application and packaging) of filtered cigarettes.

“The 14 Moldovan nationals are aged between 24 and 66. They previously worked in tobacco factories in Moldova and some of them were in conflict with the law. In the scheme investigated in the Czech Republic, one of them was the organiser, involved in securing the production process with raw material, monitoring the clandestine production activity and identifying customers for cigarettes. Another main figure was responsible for hiring engineers and auxiliary workers to set up the clandestine lines and illegally produce the tobacco products. The other 12 people were technical engineers, ancillary workers and drivers,” the statement added.

According to the SIS, investigations are continuing, including into other members allegedly involved in the illicit activity, during which time they are presumed innocent by law.