Italian authorities have made a significant bust, seizing over 150 tons of counterfeit cigarettes from a clandestine factory hidden in an underground bunker. The factory, located near Rome, was capable of producing around 7 million cigarettes daily, or approximately 2.7 billion annually. The sophisticated operation was valued at over $1.05 billion, with the Italian ministry estimating evaded taxes to exceed $600 million.
The factory was discovered in a 1,600-square-meter bunker concealed behind a hydraulic mechanism in an industrial warehouse. Inside, police found advanced machinery and materials for cigarette production, as well as makeshift living quarters for workers. The workers, mostly foreign nationals, were reportedly subjected to harsh working conditions.
This seizure is one of the largest in recent years, following another significant bust in Pomezia, near Rome, where 82 tons of counterfeit cigarettes were seized. The production and smuggling of fake cigarettes have been on the rise in Italy, with authorities working to combat organized crime groups involved in this lucrative black market.
