On Tuesday, the police and the FIOD tax investigation service rolled up an illegal cigarette factory in a business premises in Ter Apel Canal in Groningen. Three men who were working there have been arrested.
One of the suspects came into view at the police because of a German investigation. It concerns a 66-year-old man from Stompwijk. He is associated with stealing expensive cars, which he would ship to Dubai. His involvement in the illegal cigarette trade came to the fore in this investigation.
At the request of Germany, the Dutch authorities raided the business premises on Tuesday. There, 1.5 million cigarettes and 18 boxes of tobacco were found. The goods have been seized and destroyed. The police have also raided a farm in Alteveer and a business building in Veendam, reports RTV North.
The man from Stompwijk is handed over to the German authorities. The two other suspects, men aged 40 and 46 from Lithuania, are still detained in the Netherlands.
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