It’s a big seizure, estimated at 6.95 million euros. Customs announced on Tuesday that they had seized nearly 14 tonnes of contraband tobacco between August 2 and 4 in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions.
Officers from the Dunkirk (North) brigade first discovered on August 2 nearly 8 tonnes of tobacco hidden in a heavy goods vehicle when boarding a ferry at Loon-Plage leaving for Ireland, according to a communicated. On the same day, another heavy goods vehicle bound for the United Kingdom was intercepted by customs officers in the Channel Tunnel, in Pas-de-Calais, with 1.6 tonnes of tobacco on board. Finally, on August 4, the Dunkirk brigade seized 4.4 tonnes of tobacco in a port container coming from Singapore and heading for the United Kingdom.
More than 400 tonnes of contraband tobacco were seized in France in 2021, a figure up 41% year on year. These seizures “are on the rise” in 2022, according to the customs press release.