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North Rhine-Westphalia illegal cigarette factory raid leads to 21 arrests
Customs officials and prosecutors have dismantled an illegal cigarette factory in North Rhine-Westphalia, resulting in 21 arrests. The operation follows an investigation into the criminal group that began in May 2026.
Authorities suspect the group of tax evasion and receiving stolen goods. The operation allegedly involved manufacturing cigarettes in a hidden facility, placing them in counterfeit brand packaging, and selling them untaxed on the black market. Photos released by customs show professional production machinery and large quantities of cut tobacco.
The large-scale raid involved customs offices from Aachen, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Dortmund, Cologne, and Münster, with additional support from Berlin and Hannover. Specialized units from the Customs Investigation Bureau and the Federal Police participated, alongside support from the Technical Relief Agency (THW).
Entities
Customs Investigation Bureau · Federal Police · North Rhine-Westphalia · THW
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The group allegedly produced cigarettes in a hidden factory in North Rhine-Westphalia, filled them into counterfeit brand packaging, and sold them untaxed on the black market. www.marler-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The suspects are suspected of tax evasion and receiving stolen goods. www.marler-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Twenty-one people were arrested during a raid on an illegal cigarette factory. www.marler-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The operation involved customs offices from Aachen, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Dortmund, Cologne, and Münster, as well as personnel from Berlin and Hannover. www.marler-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Investigations into the criminal group have been ongoing since May 2026. www.marler-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · www.stimberg-zeitung.de