OLAF Supported Strike against Illegal Cigarette Production
29 July 2021 (updated 3 years, 2 months ago)
2018-Max_Planck_Herr_Wahl_1355_black white_Zuschnitt.jpg Thomas Wahl

On 22 July 2021, OLAF reported on a successful strike against a criminal network that illegally produced and sold cigarettes. The operation dubbed “Alecrín” mainly involved Spanish and Portuguese law enforcement authorities and already started in 2019. Targeted enforcement activities were carried out between May and July 2021. They resulted in 29 arrests and the seizure of €2 million in cash. In total, 27 million cigarettes and 51 tonnes of tobacco were seized. It is estimated that the criminal gang defrauded over € 10 million from public revenue. OLAF supported the exchange of information, coordinated investigations and assisted in defining an international investigation strategy.

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Author

2018-Max_Planck_Herr_Wahl_1355_black white_Zuschnitt.jpg
Thomas Wahl

Institution:
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (MPI CSL)

Department:
Public Law Department

Position:
Senior Researcher