Illegal Cigarette Production Uncovered in Industrial Park near Kosice

Kechnec, March 12 (TASR) - An illegal cigarette factory has been discovered in Kechnec industrial park near Kosice, with the excise tax damage amounting to almost €5 million, TASR was told by spokesman for Financial Administration (the tax office) Daniel Sukup on Wednesday. Armed officers of the FS Criminal Office have carried out an operation codenamed Phoenix in recent days. "They searched a former cabbage production and packing plant in Kechnec industrial park," said Sukup, adding that an illegal cigarette factory was discovered there. More than 18 million cigarettes were seized, along with more than 15 tonnes of high-quality processed tobacco without valid control stamps and more than 55 kilograms of badly made cigarettes. "Also seized was equipment for filling and packaging cigarettes into consumer packs originating from India and China worth €300,000, plus components for cigarette production, a diesel generator, a forklift truck and pallet trucks," added Sukup. In connection with this, an FS investigator has initiated a criminal investigation into the crime of violating the regulations on state technical measures for marking goods. am/df