Italy Seizes Largest Illegal Factory With Over 300 Tons Counterfeit Cigarettes

Authorities in Bridgnorth, UK, and Italy have conducted major operations targeting counterfeit cigarette production and sales, uncovering dangerous illegal activities that pose significant public health risks. In Bridgnorth, police seized counterfeit cigarettes worth over £500 hidden behind false walls at a local business, emphasizing the threat these unregulated products pose to consumers and legitimate businesses. Meanwhile, Italian customs police dismantled the country's largest illegal cigarette factory near Cassino, revealing a sophisticated underground bunker with three production lines capable of manufacturing over seven million cigarettes daily, or approximately 2.7 billion annually. The hidden factory featured advanced technology, including a hydraulic entrance mechanism, ventilation systems to mask emissions, and on-site living quarters for workers. The operation is estimated to have generated more than €900 million in annual revenue with around €600 million in unpaid taxes, and several suspects have been identified with at least one arrest made. These coordinated efforts highlight the global challenge of combating counterfeit tobacco production and protecting public health and the economy from illicit trade.