24 March 2026 l Europol

A large, organised crime group suspected of smuggling counterfeit cigarettes into Europe has been targeted in a coordinated operation across five countries on 24 March.

The action day, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin, Italy, took place in Italy, Poland, France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland with Europol’s support.

The investigation was launched in September 2024 following the seizure of 12 million counterfeit cigarettes at the Port of Genoa. The cigarettes had been produced in Armenia and shipped via Georgia before entering the EU.