The FIOD rolled up an illegal cigarette factory in Schaijk in Brabant on Wednesday. That same day, a similar factory was found under construction in Heerlen. A total of 21 arrests were made.
The FIOD suspects that these factories could produce one million cigarettes each day.
During a joint action day, the FIOD and customs raided a total of fifteen business premises in several places. In total, the agents seized 5.4 million cigarettes, 40,000 kilos of tobacco and 800 kilos of hookah tobacco, as well as dozens of pallets of packaging material, tissue paper, filters, glue, aggregates and jammers. Had the cigarettes hit the market, the state would have lost some 8.5 million in excise duties.
The Domeinen Roerende Zaken service has removed and destroyed fifteen trailers with machines and raw materials. Enforcers found material for the production of hemp in three buildings. Those buildings have been handed over to the police.
The 21 men arrested were Polish or Ukrainian nationals. A spokesman for the FIOD says against Broadcasting Brabant that the men worked in the factory. It is not yet known who is behind the factory.
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