A mobile customs inspection team stopped a Romanian van on the A1 near St. Pölten at the end of October and seized 13,000 smuggled cigarettes. Assistance dog Django tracked down the illegal chik. Hidden under seats and in door panels. Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) thanked his customs officers “for not only protecting our business location, but also the health of citizens”.
First a small criminal case in which ‘only’ small fish went into the net. But in fact, through such “flying dealers”, the detectives can penetrate to the roots of the mafia’s dirty billion-dollar business: for example, in criminal production facilities in the Czech Republic. Where people pay counterfeit tobacco products unchecked and for starvation wages under the most adverse conditions.
In the previous year alone, godparents of tobacco reached a market share of 8.1 percent in the EU – according to a study by auditors commissioned by the Philip Morris group, that are 35.2 billion illegally trafficked tobacco products.
Also a huge loss for the Union: EUR 10.4 billion of taxpayers’ money (EUR 101 million for us) wasted. Even worse: with the profits, the Chik mafia finances human trafficking, corruption and even terrorism!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
