2024-03-25 17:38:12
Customs organized a day of action this Monday against the illegal production of cigarettes. A factory was dismantled in Gilly, in the entity of Charleroi, while millions of cigarettes were discovered in warehouses located nearby, according to the FPS Finances.
In Gilly, the illegal factory included a drying line, a production line, a packaging line as well as bedrooms and living space for 9 people. Nearly 13 million cigarettes of the Marlboro Blue, Compliment and Rothmans brands were seized, as well as 4,800 kg of cut tobacco. The cigarette packets found mainly bore English inscriptions. A truck containing approximately 7,140 kg of tobacco was also seized.
“Today, we have found no less than 12 million finished products, but there must be many more. It is the analysis which will be able to say this based in particular on the tobacco packaging which is now empty. We will then to be able to count what was produced here on site”indicates Sébastien Dehaye, investigation manager for customs.
Customs officers destroyed the entire machine installation. “We call on a specialized company. The tobacco is brought back under escort to a secure warehouse for destruction,” adds Sébastien Dehaye.
Other searches
Searches were also carried out in warehouses located in Ransart, La Louvière and Montignies-sur-Sambre, as well as in several private houses in Châtelet.
In total, nearly 23 billion cigarettes, 4,800 kg of cut tobacco and 15,120 kg of raw tobacco were seized during this day of action. The duties evaded (excise duties, special excise duties and VAT) exceed 10.5 million euros, specifies the FPS Finances.
Nine people arrested
Nine people were arrested, including eight Ukrainian nationals and one Portuguese national. Last year, six production sites and 16 warehouses of illegal cigarettes were dismantled. This is the first time this year that Belgian customs have dismantled a production site.
Gilly cigarettes factory counterfeit
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