Tobacco trafficking: more than 27 tonnes seized during a customs operation

Europe 1 with AFP // Philippe LOPEZ / AFP 12:33 p.m., March 29, 2024

More than 27 tonnes of tobacco were seized during an operation across France called "Colbert II", the equivalent of 20 million euros in revenue for the State, the general directorate of customs announced on Friday. The operation took place throughout France from March 20 to 27, with the intervention of more than 10,000 state agents including 5,300 customs officers.

“More than 27 tonnes of tobacco were seized, three times more than during the first Colbert operation in June 2023,” detailed Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts Thomas Cazenave during a briefing with the press. . The minister praised "historic results", representing "1.7 million packets, 33 million cigarettes and a loss of 20 million euros" for the State. Tobacco trafficking represents several billion euros in losses for public finances each year.

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Aix-en-Provence customs officers made the largest seizure of the operation, on the road, with 10.4 tonnes of cigarettes. In total, the operation resulted in 108 arrests and the opening of 52 files requesting administrative closures for establishments selling illicit merchandise. Operation Colbert II, developed as part of the national anti-fraud operational group (Gonaf), is part of the national plan to combat tobacco trafficking 2023-2025.

Tobacco trafficking is booming: customs services seized 521 tonnes of tobacco last year, after the 2022 record of 649 tonnes. Intercepted cigarettes are systematically destroyed. Since December 2021, the authorities have dismantled five clandestine cigarette manufacturing factories in France, a veritable cash machine for criminal organizations, often specializing in drug trafficking, which are seeking to diversify.

Although tobacco was targeted as part of Operation Colbert II, significant seizures of narcotics were made by the authorities. “We also made significant seizures of narcotics, particularly in the south of France in Montpellier, where nearly 400 kg of cannabis resin and 114 kg of cocaine” were intercepted, detailed Corinne Cléostrate, deputy director of affairs. legal and customs litigation.