Parma: Clandestine cigarette factory dismantled: 12 arrests and massive seizure
Investigative Unit Operation: Blitz in the Illegal Industry
Carabinieri officers from the Parma Provincial Command's Investigative Unit have put an end to a massive illegal counterfeit cigarette production ring, arresting 12 foreign citizens of Eastern European origin, aged between 26 and 49. The operation led to the seizure of an entire clandestine industrial warehouse and a warehouse in the province, containing materials, machinery, and products ready for sale on the black market.
Record seizure of tobacco and cigarettes
Overall, the police found 20 tons of raw tobacco, semi-finished tobacco, and pre-packaged cigarettes, along with over 200.000 packs of counterfeit cigarettes. The factory had an estimated production capacity of 700.000 cigarettes per day, equipped with automated production and packaging lines, dryers, shredders, and industrial machinery worth approximately €4 million.
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Accommodation and internal organization of the shed
Inside the facility, the Carabinieri discovered dormitories, a kitchen, and restrooms, allowing those detained to live and work without ever leaving. The laboratory was powered by a diesel generator and protected by video surveillance systems, broadband video scanners, and drone detectors to prevent any intervention by law enforcement.
Materials and accessories for industrial production
In addition to the tobacco, 13 pallets of filters and specialty papers, tons of cardboard with counterfeit logos, reels of sealing film, and drums of industrial glue were seized. The entire facility was intended for the sale of counterfeit products and excise tax fraud.
Coordinated raid and arrests
The Carabinieri raid was swift: the 12 suspects were arrested inside the warehouse and in adjacent rooms. All were taken to Parma prison, except for the driver of the truck used to transport the raw materials, for whom the investigating judge placed him under house arrest. The operation neutralized a criminal network dedicated to the industrial-scale production and distribution of counterfeit cigarettes, protecting the legal market and combating tax fraud.
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