- Unlawful Cigarette Production Facility: Potential Imprisonment of Nearly Five Years
Boss of Underground Cigarette Manufacturing Facility in Brilon Serves 4.5 Years in Prison
The overseer of an unauthorized cigarette manufacturing site in Brilon, Sauerland, received a sentence of 4.5 years in prison. The 53-year-old openly acknowledged his role in the creation and distribution of up to 2.4 million fake and untaxed cigarettes on a daily basis. The tax evasion totaled to approximately 13 million euros from June 2023 to November 2023, as per the verdict of the Bochum Regional Court. Two additional individuals were penalized with 30 and 33 months in prison each.
The clandestine cigarette factory was found during a search operation on November 6, 2022. Over 26 million cigarettes and vast quantities of tobacco scrap were confiscated. According to the verdict, these goods were intended for the illicit market in Germany and Europe. "This was crime at its most fundamental level," remarked Judge Markus van den Hövel during the sentencing.
Insight from Poland
As per the court proceedings, the initial hint of illegal manufacturing emerged from Polish authorities. The 38 to 53-year-old German suspects gave testimonies during the trial. The judgments are related to tax evasion and tax fraud. Two of the three rulings are still pending. According to the prosecution, twelve other suspects have already been ordered to serve suspended sentences in prior trials.
The Polish authorities provided initial information leading to the discovery of the underground cigarette manufacturing facility, which had a capacity of producing large quantities of uncapped tobacco products. The illegal goods were intended for both the German and European illicit markets, bypassing tax regulations and resulting in substantial financial loss.
