In the framework of international cooperation, the Romanian Border Police, through specialized structures, offered support to the destruction of a criminal group, consisting of 22 members, most of them citizens of the Republic of Moldova, involved in the clandestine production of cigarettes on the territory of the Czech Republic.
The large-scale operation involved authorities from several states, led to the seizure of approximately 17,700,000 cigarettes produced clandestinely and over 11,000 kg of tobacco, on the territory of the European state. Counterfeit cigarettes were produced in the Czech Republic and later delivered to various European Union countries (Germany, Romania, Poland, France, etc.).
The clandestine cigarette production factory was located in the Czech Republic, at the identified locations several clandestine lines were discovered that ensured the entire process of counterfeiting (tobacco shredding, production, filter application, packaging, etc.) of filter cigarettes.
There were also raids on the territory of several states, where additional evidence was obtained regarding criminal activities carried out by the persons involved, including documents, parts for cigarette production machinery, matrices for applying the inscription on cigarettes, mobile phones, as well as various other sums of money.
Authorities from the Republic of Moldova, EUBAM Mission experts, the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Border Police and customs officers from the Investigations Section of the General Directorate of Customs of the Czech Republic participated in the operation.
The crime being committed in the Czech Republic, the persons involved are to be investigated on the territory of this state.
