When law enforcement officers began checking the facility, the equipment for cigarette production was operational. The individuals present in the premises attempted to escape, ignoring the lawful demands of the Tax and Customs Police and the State Police. With the support of the State Police, all were apprehended at the scene of the alleged crime. Eighteen individuals have been detained. As a preventive measure, arrest has been chosen for all those detained. During the search of the underground factory, a large quantity of tobacco, illegally produced cigarettes, filters, packaging, and blanks for the production of tobacco products were discovered. Sleeping areas for workers were also equipped there. It turned out that the enterprise represented a full-cycle production. The factory contained a grinder, drying equipment, and a tobacco cutter, a special device for checking the quality of cut tobacco, as well as two lines for producing cigarettes — standard and slim formats. Additionally, there were lines for packaging cigarettes into packs and blocks. Law enforcement officers found all necessary raw materials and materials: tobacco, filters, glue, blanks for cigarette packs, foil, and film. The factory also contained counterfeit Belarusian excise stamps. These were affixed to fake cigarettes that were passed off as produced in Belarus. According to law enforcement estimates, this way the manufacturers attempted to mislead both buyers and regulatory authorities. The discovered equipment and raw materials indicate that the underground enterprise was counterfeiting cigarettes of both European and Belarusian brands. Among them were Marlboro, Winston, NZ, Minsk, Davidoff, and Parliament. The factory discovered in Riga confirms previously received operational information that some cigarettes, which appear to be produced in Belarus, may actually be illegally manufactured directly on the territory of the European Union. This, in the opinion of law enforcement, may mean that the actual number of counterfeit cigarettes in Europe is significantly higher than research shows, and the volume of cigarettes actually smuggled into the EU is correspondingly lower. In connection with the discovery of illegal production, the Tax and Customs Police have initiated a criminal process under the signs of a crime provided for by part three of Article 221 of the Criminal Law — for possible illegal production of tobacco products. In the interests of the investigation, more detailed information is not being disclosed at this time.
