Twelve people were arrested in France after months of investigation in a case of cigarette trafficking.

An entire smuggling network between Paris Brive, Angers, Nancy and Lyon has been dismantled.

The amount of tobacco packages sold by this network is estimated at 8.5 million euros. 

A vast network of contraband cigarettes was dismantled in France and 12 people arrested after months of investigation under the authority of the JIRS (Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction) of Bordeaux, according to a press release from the national gendarmerie.

During the survey conducted in the Paris region, Brive, Angers, Nancy and Lyon, the volume "of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes sold in France by members of this network is estimated at more than 25.5 tonnes for a value over the internal market of more than 8.5 million euros ".

Six people indicted

An operation launched on April 6 allowed "the dismantling of this organized gang and the seizure of 1,780 cartons of contraband cigarettes, 34,616 euros and two vehicles worth 94,000 euros," the statement said.

In addition, "more than 15,000 other cartridges counterfeiting the Marlboro brand with a domestic value of more than 1.5 million euros and more than 1.3 million duties and taxes evaded, were seized in a warehouse in the Paris region ".

Six people were indicted on charges including criminal associations, importation and possession in smuggling and organized gang of manufactured tobacco products.

Five were the subject of warrants of committal and another was placed under judicial supervision, according to the same source.

An investigation lasting more than two years

The case began following the seizure of packages of cigarettes carried out by the Regional Customs Directorate of Poitiers: a total of 2.5 tonnes of packages had been delivered between December 2018 and August 2019 to members of the Armenian community. in connection with members of the Ukrainian community. 

On April 27, 2020, a judicial information was opened to the JIRS of Bordeaux which had entrusted the investigations to the financial judicial investigation service, in connection with the gendarmerie services of Limoges and Corrèze.

In another case, the gendarmerie of the Pays de Loire announced Monday four indictments after the dismantling of a network of traffickers suspected of having imported 75 tons of contraband cigarettes which they distributed to "local wholesalers".