Beernem: smuggling gang arrested with 5 million counterfeit cigarettes

“On September 28, 2022, customs detained 4 smugglers of counterfeit cigarettes and seized 5.636 million counterfeit cigarettes in a warehouse in Beernem,” said the Customs spokesperson.

“The 4 counterfeit cigarette smugglers (one Irishman, two British and one Belgian) are being brought before the investigating judge today. The smuggling gang used the warehouse to smuggle the cigarettes to the United Kingdom.”

Looking for truckers along E40

“Their working method was to top up a few pallets of cigarettes in between a regular load to the UK. For this, the gang went looking for truck drivers at car parks and filling stations along the E40, who are on their way to Calais for the crossing to the United Kingdom. .

They are called “window tappers” because they do this by tapping on truck drivers’ windows. The phenomenon already existed before Brexit, but has only increased since then.

A total of 5.636 million Richmond-brand cigarettes were found and a truck and several vehicles were seized. The seizure corresponds to 1.8 million euros in evaded excise duties and VAT,” said the spokesman for Customs.

(Photos: Customs)