Overview

• Law enforcement executed raids at 24 locations across Berlin, Hannover, the Ruhr area, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Sweden, targeting a suspected smuggling network.
• More than six tons of untaxed waterpipe tobacco, along with illegal e-cigarettes and €80,000 in cash, were seized during the operation.
• Investigators discovered an illegal laboratory used to process raw tobacco into shisha tobacco, a key component of the smuggling operation.
• Three suspects, including the alleged 48-year-old ringleader, were arrested, with authorities continuing to dismantle the network and pursue additional leads.
• The estimated tax loss for Berlin alone is approximately €1 million, highlighting the financial impact of the organized tax evasion scheme.