Between May 19 and 21, enforcement officials disrupted three large-scale shipments of unlicensed tobacco products in the Port of Rotterdam and the municipality of Halderberge. These operations resulted in the seizure of roughly 20 million cigarettes, 9,000 kilograms of tobacco, and 15,000 kilograms of shisha (hookah) tobacco.
The investigations are being carried out by Combiteam Smoke, a joint task force comprised of FINCEN and the Public Prosecution Service. Efforts are now focused on uncovering the source and intended recipients of the intercepted shipments.
Timeline of Events
- May 19 (Monday): Authorities discovered a trailer containing more than 12 million cigarettes. One individual of Polish nationality was taken into custody during the operation.
- May 20 (Tuesday): A second trailer was stopped, revealing over 8 million cigarettes and around 3,700 kilograms of rolling tobacco. No arrests were made in connection with this find.
- May 21 (Wednesday): At a business property in Halderberge, officers located a trailer holding approximately 15,000 kilograms of hookah tobacco and 5,000 kilograms of tobacco. The entire shipment was confiscated; no suspects were detained at the scene.
Estimated Financial Impact
Had these products entered the unauthorized market, the estimated loss to the Dutch government in unpaid excise duties would have reached nearly 16 million euros. All confiscated items will be securely destroyed to prevent circulation.
About Combiteam Smoke
Combiteam Smoke is a coordinated effort between the Customs Authority, and the Public Prosecution Service. The team is tasked with detecting and halting the unauthorized distribution of tobacco-related goods through investigative and enforcement strategies.
