PRESS RELEASE N 22/2014
8 December 2014
PDF version 82 KB

On 1 December 2014, on the basis of information provided to them by the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF), Dutch customs authorities carried out a successful operation against international cigarette smugglers. The customs officials of the Belastingdienst uncovered a load of over 3.9 million cigarettes of an illegal brand.

Upon receiving information from OLAF, Dutch customs officials searched a freight vehicle registered with Lithuanian number plates in the vicinity of Eindhoven (NL). They uncovered a load of over 3.9 million cigarettes of an illegal brand. The cigarettes had allegedly been manufactured in the Republic of Belarus. The vehicle had no transport documents and part of the cigarettes had been concealed in kitchen cabinets that it was transporting. The customs officials seized the vehicle and the cigarettes.

This operation was organized in the framework of efforts coordinated by OLAF across Lithuania, Poland and The Netherlands seeking to dismantle networks of cigarette smugglers.

Background

Cigarette smuggling causes huge yearly losses to Member States and the EU in evaded customs duties and taxes. Smuggled tobacco respects no rules, and poses great risks to both consumers and businesses. It undermines anti smoking and public health campaigns, and violates the strict rules that the EU and Member States have on manufacturing, distribution and sale. OLAF investigates cases of customs fraud as they are financially damaging to legitimate industry and the EU taxpayer. OLAF has an explicit mandate to fight cigarette smuggling as part of the EU efforts to curb this phenomenon.

OLAF
The mission of the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) is threefold it protects the financial interests of the European Union by investigating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities it detects and investigates serious matters relating to the discharge of professional duties by members and staff of the EU institutions and bodies that could result in disciplinary or criminal proceedings and it supports the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, in the development and implementation of anti fraud legislation and policies.

For further details
Alina BUREA
Spokesperson
European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone 32 2 295 73 36
E mail olaf media

Efvi: the european free vaping initiative

Cigarettes online Blog Archive Books v. cigarettes by george orwell — reviews, discussion, bookclubs, lists

The official signature collection period for EFVI is now over. We’ve collected slightly more than 181.000 signatures, which is a lot, but it’s below the threshold of one million, thus rendering us ineligible to meet the EC and the EP to present our case.

We’d like to thank everyone who supported our cause especially those who helped to organize and manage the signature collection and campaigning all over Europe. During the next few weeks we’ll get our ducks in row and find out how to proceed forward.

The year 2015 will be crucial as the TPD is being implemented on national levels, with signs of member states already trying to twist and abuse the way too vague wording of the directive. What you can do

  • Follow the progress of your national TPD implementations and challenge it if your government is overstepping the boundaries. Use all available resources protest, petition, complain at the Ombudsman, complain at your Constitutional Court (or your local equivalent), and so on.
  • Keep an eye on the latest researches and publications and use social media to help dismissing the lies the media keeps spreading.
  • Keep your fingers crossed while Totally Wicked is challenging the TPD at the Court of Justice of the EU.
  • And most importantly do not give up!

Thank you all for participating!

Sincerely,

The EFVI Team