GNR Police said after two house raids and two other raids in Gondomar, northern Portugal, a 52-year-old man was arrested “on suspicion of fraudulent introduction for consumption,” and 850 kilos of tobacco leaves were seized at an illegal processing factory.
During the operation, the GNR also seized €30,000 in cash, 53 kilos of founded silver, worth an estimated €36,000, an illegal firearm and 120 bullets.
“The suspect was caught in the act when he was unloading seven pallets with 850 kilos of tobacco leaves,” the source said.
According to the GNR source, this year the police force has seized the equivalent of “around 200 million cigarettes,” or almost 100 times more than in 2015, due to the rise in tax on tobacco.
In the first five months of the year, the State raised €569.2 million in tobacco tax, or 75 percent more than in the same period of last year. TPN/Lusa