The Central Bureau of Police Investigation in cooperation with the National Prosecutor's Office has completed 1 of the largest in fresh years investigations into the illegal production of cigarettes in Poland. The procedure led by 2 organised criminal groups exposed the Treasury to massive financial losses exceeding the amount PLN 155 million. This is an amount equal to the cost of building a fewer twelve kilometers of modern road or an yearly budget of the average size of the city. An indictment has just been sent to the Opole court in this case, which means that the case has entered a decisive phase.
Hitting illegal tobacco factories is the consequence of long-term operational and analytical activities. The scale and level of losses clearly show how lucrative the illicit tobacco marketplace is and how serious a threat it is to public finances. The completion of the investigation and the referral of the indictment is an crucial step in the fight against economical crime in Poland.
Polish brainiacs, abroad workers. How did the gang work?
The full task was headed by 2 Poles who organized and led 2 independent, although connected criminal groups. They were the originators and main beneficiaries of illegal production. They mainly employed citizens of Latvia and Ukraine to work in factories. specified a model of action is frequently found in specified crimes – it uses mobility and lower labour costs while making it hard to identify organisers.
The mechanics of action was simple but highly effective. The groups established and operated secret factories where cigarettes were produced from non-taxed tobacco. They thus circumvented all customs, excise and VAT duties, which account for a crucial part of the price of legal cigarettes. The finished goods then hit the black market, generating immense profits for criminals at the expense of the state budget.
Two factories and warehouse: The scale of illegal production shocks
The investigation of the CBS and the National Prosecutor's Office allowed to identify and destruct the 2 main factories where illegal production took place. The first 1 was located in Opolszczyń. Her processing powers allowed her to produce even 28 million pieces of cigarettes. During the liquidation of this factory, officers took over 8 tonnes of finished tobacco and 3.5 million pieces of cigarettes already manufactured – evidence of tremendous marketplace value and evidence.
The second, much larger factory, operated in Lower Silesia. Its possible production capacity was awesome and could scope even 115 million cigarettes. In addition to factories, officers besides liquidated a warehouse that was utilized to store natural materials or finished goods. The scale of the materials taken over and the production capacity of the factories clearly demonstrates the professional nature of criminal activity.
14 detainees and an indictment. A decisive step in the matter
As a consequence of operations carried out and the liquidation of illegal infrastructure, officers of the Central Bureau of Police Investigation detained together 14 people connected to criminal activity. They were individuals who played different roles in the gang structure – from physical workers in factories to those liable for logistics or supervision.
The most serious allegations were heard by 2 Poles, identified as leaders and organisers of criminal groups. They have been accused of directing an organized crime group and criminal-tax crimes related to the illegal production of large-scale tobacco products. Collected evidence allowed the National Prosecutor's Office to formulate an indictment that had already been sent to the Opole territory Court. This means that a trial will shortly begin, which will yet settle the defendants' guilt.
Severe consequences. Up to 10 years in prison for gang members
Members of liquidated criminal groups, and in peculiar their leaders, must face very severe legal consequences. According to Polish law, for participation in an organized criminal group and for criminal-carb crimes related to the production and trafficking of illegal tobacco products on specified a large scale, they endanger to many years imprisonment. For those in charge of the group, the punishment may be even 10 years in prison.
In addition, the defendants must be paid high fineto compensate for at least part of the losses incurred by the Treasury. Regardless of the judgment, the scale of the losses – PLN 155 million – shows how severe this kind of crime is for the state budget and how crucial the effective work of the services in combating them is. The Opole trial will be an crucial signal to the criminal world.
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Cigarette scandal in Poland. 2 Poles charged with PLN 155 million in losses
