Cigarette smuggling rises with major seizures in Italy and Switzerland

Authorities in Italy and Switzerland are reporting significant activity regarding cigarette smuggling. In Torre Annunziata, the Guardia di Finanza conducted a major operation in the Penniniello district, seizing over 223 kilograms of contraband cigarettes. The seizure occurred after officers intercepted a man on an electric bicycle; a subsequent search of his residence revealed a clandestine warehouse stocked with various international brands, including Marlboro, Camel, and Winston.

Simultaneously, data from Switzerland indicates a sharp rise in illegal tobacco trafficking. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (UDSC) reported seizing approximately 1.6 million smuggled cigarettes in 2025, a significant increase from the 950,000 seized in 2024 and nearly double the amount recorded in 2023.