Polish police and customs officers seized almost 63 tonnes of untaxed tobacco in a coordinated raid in Braniewo, potentially costing the State Treasury around PLN 88 million.
Coordinated raid discovers illegal tobacco stockpile
Policemen from the Central Investigation Department, the Masovian Customs and Revenue Office in Warsaw, and the Braniewo Border Guard post inspected a property in Pruszków County. They uncovered nearly 30 tonnes of cigarette tobacco lacking required excise stamps and a device for drying it. Two men, aged 49 and 50 and residents of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, were detained at the scene.
Detained suspects linked to hidden containers
During the search, officers seized a vehicle containing GPS jamming equipment, stamps, documents, and a set of keys. One detainee admitted the keys led to a container at another location, where officers later found an additional 10 tonnes of untaxed tobacco.
Truck transport reveals further illicit cargo
While conducting the operation, a tractor with a trailer entered the property, carrying nearly 13 tonnes of tobacco without Polish excise stamps. Further inspection uncovered a second container filled with illicit goods.
Total seizure: nearly 63 tonnes, 88 million PLN loss feared
In total, authorities confiscated almost 63 tonnes of tobacco, which were transferred to the MUCS depot in Warsaw. If the seized tobacco had entered circulation, State Treasury losses could reach about PLN 88 million.
Legal proceedings underway
The two men were brought before the Pruszków District Prosecutor’s Office, facing charges of importing, storing, and distributing tobacco without mandatory excise stamps. The investigation is managed by the Investigative Department of the Masovian Customs and Revenue Office in Warsaw under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office.
