Dutch authorities dismantle illegal cigarette factory in Stroe; 12 arrested
Dutch investigators dismantled a large-scale illegal cigarette factory in the village of Stroe on Wednesday, arresting 12 men and seizing millions of euros worth of untaxed tobacco, the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) said.
The raid followed intelligence from regional police and was carried out by the Tobacco Task Force, a joint team of the FIOD and Dutch Customs. Inside the warehouse, authorities discovered a fully operational cigarette production line. The facility was professionally outfitted and included sleeping and living quarters for workers, indicating prolonged and large-scale operations.
In total, investigators confiscated 320,000 cigarettes, 45,000 kilograms of tobacco, and a large quantity of materials used to produce cigarettes. All excise goods, machinery, and raw materials were seized and have since been removed for destruction.
According to the FIOD, the Dutch treasury would have lost an estimated 20 million euros in excise tax revenue had the cigarettes reached the market. Tax evasion through unpaid excise duties and sales taxes is a criminal offense in the Netherlands.
Authorities said the illegal tobacco trade yields enormous profits for criminal organizations while seriously harming the economy. “Profits in the illegal tobacco trade are enormous,” they stated. “They lead to the accumulation of criminal assets and severely damage the Dutch treasury.” In addition to tax losses, the trade undermines anti-smoking policies and creates unfair competition for legal retailers.
The Tobacco Task Force — known in Dutch as Combiteam Smoke — is a collaboration between the FIOD and Dutch Customs focused on dismantling illegal tobacco networks. The criminal investigation is under the direction of the Functional Prosecutor’s Office, which specializes in financial and economic crimes.
