DIICOT prosecutors discovered an illegal cigarette factory in Timiș, with hundreds of boxes of cigarettes and tons of tobacco, as part of an investigation into smuggling.

On Wednesday, DIICOT prosecutors conducted three searches in Timiș County, where they discovered an illegal cigarette factory located on the outskirts of Timișoara. As part of this operation, investigators found hundreds of boxes of cigarettes and significant quantities of tobacco, in a case targeting the establishment of an organized criminal group and smuggling activities. The investigations focus on several offenses, including the use of companies and packaging that mislead consumers and trademark counterfeiting.

The criminal group, established in January 2026, had an organized structure on three levels: decision-making, production, and distribution, aiming to obtain profits by supplying the black market. Hearings of the involved individuals will take place at the DIICOT headquarters – Caraș-Severin Territorial Office, and the operation was supported by the police and gendarmerie. Authorities emphasize that the individuals under investigation enjoy the procedural rights provided by law.