Operation “Zamek”: International criminal network of tobacco smuggling dismantled, 50 tons of goods and clandestine factories seized

Throughout Europe arrests, searches and seizures aimed at dismantling a criminal group composed of subjects originating from Eastern Europe (Ukrainians, Moldovans and Romanians), held responsible for crimes of production and trafficking of contraband cigarettes.

The investigations were carried out by a Joint Investigation Team set up – coordinated by Eurojust – by French, Italian and Polish judicial authorities; this was supported by an 'Operational Task Force', a team of police forces set up at Europol, which also involved police forces from other European countries.

In total they are 11 police forces involved (In Italy, France, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands) who are working in constant synergy to dismantle a criminal organization that, over time, has managed to branch out into several countries, to increase its illicit interests.

In Italy, the investigations were conducted by the Guardia di Finanza e from the Carabinieri of Bergamo, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Bergamo Court.

In more than a year of investigations, through several operational meetings held in The Hague (at Eurojust and Europol), it was possible to reconstruct the economic relations and distribution channels of tobacco which, once it arrived in Europe - and therefore also in Italy - was subsequently transferred, via articulated lorries, to the clandestine factories placed by the organization across the continent. The French and Polish judicial authorities have issued specific European arrest warrants for the main suspects, who are constantly moving between countries.