The coat of arms of the customs can be seen. Photo: picture alliance / dpa / Symbolbild
Photo: Patrick Seeger
During searches in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the customs investigation team struck a blow against cigarette smugglers from Poland. Arrest warrants were issued against four men, nine people were provisionally arrested, as the customs investigation office in Essen announced on Friday morning. During the search of eleven objects in Düsseldorf, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Meerbusch and Tönisvorst emergency services discovered almost 3.5 million untaxed cigarettes, over 120,000 euros in cash and five shooting pens.
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The arrested are a group of suspects from Poland who are said to have transported illegal cigarettes on a large scale from Poland to Germany and Belgium. “Presumably, the cigarettes were intended for the British market,” said the message. About ten days ago, customs in Bielefeld had already checked a shipment and seized pallets with a total of 17,450 untaxed and presumably counterfeit cigarette cartons of the “Richmond blue” brand.
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Pre-trial detention was ordered for three main suspects aged 43, 42 and 39 years and a 43-year-old truck driver from Poland. The other temporarily arrested were released. The tax damage uncovered during the campaign between November 10th and 12th was estimated at around 550,000 euros. The investigation continued.
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