Customs announced Tuesday, August 9 to have seized nearly 14 tons of contraband tobacco between August 2 and 4 in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, for an estimated market value of 6.95 million euros.
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.
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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.
