Illegal cigarette factory discovered in Slovenia

Authorities in Slovenia have uncovered what is described as the country’s largest illegal cigarette manufacturing facility, located in the northeastern region near Lendava. The facility was fully equipped with modern production lines, including tobacco processing machinery, a high-capacity cigarette maker, and two packaging lines. To maintain operations, the plant utilized its own power supply generated by two large aggregators and maintained an on-site fuel depot.

During the raid, investigators seized approximately 44 tons of tobacco and at least 14 million cigarettes, along with necessary raw materials such as filters and paper. The operation was linked to organized crime, involving the production and distribution of counterfeit cigarettes for the European market.

Reports indicate that Paraguayan workers were being held in slave-like conditions at the site. The National Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of the Special Prosecutor's Office, has launched an extensive criminal investigation into the matter. The scale of the facility is noted as being among the largest in Europe.