Polish authorities seize 1.4 million untaxed cigarettes in illegal factory raid

Polish customs and tax officials together with the Central Bureau of Investigation and the police dismantled an illegal cigarette production line in a warehouse in Lower Silesia. The operation seized more than 1.4 million cigarettes and about 1.6 tons of tobacco, with an estimated market value exceeding 3.1 million PLN. Five men were arrested and charged with participation in an organised criminal group and the production and distribution of untaxed tobacco products. They were held in pre‑trial detention for three months, facing potential prison terms of six months to eight years.

The seized goods included finished cigarettes marked with the branding of a well‑known brand, cash, electronic equipment and the machinery used for illegal production. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation under the supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office in Wołowie.