Huixquilucan authorities dismantle clandestine cigarette factory

Mexican federal authorities dismantled a clandestine cigarette factory during a raid on a warehouse in Huixquilucan, State of Mexico. The operation, involving the Secretariat of National Defense, the Navy, the National Guard, and the Attorney General's Office, resulted in the seizure of approximately 60 tons of counterfeit cigarettes, equivalent to nearly two million units.

In addition to the finished products, officials seized four manufacturing and packaging machines, 293 boxes of filters, thousands of rolls of paper, 102,000 packs of cigarettes, and two vehicles. Three men, aged 46, 49, and 60, were arrested; two of the detainees are reported to be Canadian nationals.

Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, stated that the illegal production and sale of these products harm the formal economy and pose significant health risks to consumers due to a lack of sanitary and quality controls. The warehouse has been sealed, and the suspects and seized materials have been placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry for further investigation.