Italian Financial Police’s efforts in Cles against someone involved in illicit tobacco trade were reported by La Voce del Trentino on May 22nd. This operation led to serious charges against an Italian citizen for allegedly smuggling and selling unauthorized tobacco products, violating Italian regulations.
Operation Details
Authorities seized 539 e-cigarettes and a substantial amount of homemade e-liquid. In addition to criminal charges, the individual faced a hefty fine of approximately 861,000 euros for tax evasion.
Illegal Transactions
The investigation revealed the individual’s involvement in illegal transactions of tobacco-related products, conducted through direct sales and social media channels. The total volume of tobacco products involved was 1.7 metric tons, showing the scale of the operation.
Health Risks
The e-cigarettes lacked Italian-language labels and the essential ‘CE’ mark. Additionally, the nicotine content exceeded permissible levels, posing serious health risks to consumers.
Seized Items
Authorities confiscated various equipment and materials used in the illegal enterprise, including a labeling machine, distributors, promotional materials, flavoring ingredients, homemade chemical reagents, and packaging materials for online orders.
The crackdown on e-cigarette smuggling and illegal sales highlights the Italian authorities’ determination to uphold the law and protect public health. Through rigorous enforcement measures, they aim to deter individuals from engaging in unauthorized tobacco-related activities and safeguard consumers from the dangers posed by non-compliant products.
