A recent report from Polish border guards detailed a sophisticated smuggling operation involving a criminal gang that moved substantial quantities of tobacco leaves into Poland over a four-year period. The illicit trade, which saw the importation of nearly 180 tons of tobacco from Bulgaria, resulted in an estimated financial loss of approximately PLN 105 million, equivalent to around €24.491 million, to the Polish treasury. According to the findings, the perpetrators devised a complex scheme designed to circumvent official monitoring.
The operation utilized several shell companies established in both Lithuania and Poland, with local personnel appointed to manage the corporate front. The smuggling process began with the purchase of tobacco leaves in Bulgaria, typically in packages weighing about 1.5 tons. Documentation indicated that the cargo was destined for Lithuania.
However, upon crossing the Polish border, the tobacco was diverted. It was primarily transported to the Łódź district, where it underwent processing in specialized warehouses. Subsequently, the leaves were sold through various local markets.
Officials noted that the tobacco never entered the Polish supply chain through legal channels, nor was it officially accounted for within the Polish domestic market. The border guards’ investigation highlighted the systematic nature of the scheme, which exploited corporate structures to facilitate large-scale smuggling operations across international borders.
Topics: #poland #gang #companies
