Giant underground cigarette factory uncovered in Latvia. Many Belarusians worked there
The underground production facility in western Latvia operated at full capacity and could produce around 1.5 million cigarettes per day. 11 searches were conducted and 18 people were detained, and a special plan was even developed to dismantle the factory, Delfi.lv reports .
The factory was equipped with two production lines for manufacturing cigarettes, two lines for packaging cigarette packs, and two machines for packaging cigarette blocks. The enterprise also housed equipment for shredding and drying tobacco leaves, which ensured the preparation of tobacco for cigarette production.
According to preliminary estimates, the enterprise's capacity allowed for the production of about 1.5 million cigarettes per day.
At the time of detention, Marlboro Red and Rothmans Slim brand cigarettes were being produced on the production lines. At the same time, materials and packaging found at the factory suggest that counterfeit cigarettes of other brands, including Winston and Marlboro Gold, were also produced there.
Interestingly, the factory was fully adapted for the permanent residence of workers. The premises were equipped with a kitchen, food supplies were created, sleeping places were arranged, washing machines, as well as showers and sanitary facilities were installed.
The Belarusians working at the factory were in complete isolation from the outside world.
A total of 18 people were detained. Pre-trial detention was chosen as a preventive measure for 17 of them. The court replaced the arrest with bail for one suspect.
During searches at the factory, its associated warehouse, and a truck, raw materials and supplies necessary for the full cycle of cigarette production were seized. The seized items indicate that the criminal group was capable of independently performing all stages of cigarette manufacturing and packaging.
Tobacco, film, foil, paper, glue, cigarette filters, blanks for cigarette packs and packaging for cigarette blocks were seized. In total, more than 4,000 boxes of raw materials for production, 58 pallets of packaging materials, including more than 60 tons of tobacco, and 2.4 million freshly manufactured cigarettes were confiscated.
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Тое самае і ў Ле-туве.