Customs dog Emilia with cigarettes seized from the gang of smugglers
Photo: Berlin-Brandenburg Customs Investigation Office
From the BZ editorial team and BZ/dpa
Customs investigators in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia carried out a major raid against a gang of cigarette smugglers.
During searches in Rathenow, Premnitz and Herten in the Ruhr area, eight suspects were arrested on Wednesday morning, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg customs investigation office.
A total of 130 officers were involved in the raids. The tax loss is more than one million euros, the statement said.
Since March last year, investigators have been on the trail of a 30-year-old who is considered the main perpetrator, according to the customs investigation office. The woman controlled the smuggling of untaxed cigarettes from illegal Polish production and sales in Rathenow and Premnitz in Havelland. Cigarette sellers had to rent their stands from the 30-year-old.
In April 2022, she settled in Herten with her 53-year-old partner and opened an Asian restaurant. She continued her illegal business in Rathenow through a trusted person.
Since last March alone, investigators have been able to prove the sale of more than 5.6 million duty-unpaid cigarettes, according to the customs investigation office. During the searches, more than 100,000 euros in cash, the remains of cigarettes, mobile phones and numerous documents were seized.