Italian authorities seize tobacco factory producing millions of counterfeit cigarettes

Italian authorities seized a major tobacco factory in Italy, worth over 2 million euro ($2.3 million), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said on Thursday.

As part of the operation, authorities also confiscated 27 tonnes of cigarettes, 19 tonnes of tobacco and 134 pallets of materials, including packaging labelled with the logos of well-known tobacco brands. 

EPPO ordered the seizure of the industrial plant, stating that the factory operated "two high-capacity production lines" with the collective capacity to produce four million cigarettes per day. The facility also included a separate warehouse. Together, the facilities are estimated to have the capacity to produce tobacco products worth 700,000 euro ($820,355) per day, or 240 million euro ($281 million) per year. 

Seven suspects of Ukrainian and Bulgarian nationality were arrested during the operation and referred to judicial authorities for “possession of tobacco smuggling products and trademark counterfeiting,” according to the statement