Italian customs authorities dismantled an underground cigarette manufacturing operation that produced 2.7 billion illegal cigarettes annually. The facility operated from a concealed bunker spanning 1,600 square meters near Cassino, located southeast of Rome. Police discovered the entrance through hidden electrical switches inside a cardboard box that activated hydraulic lifts. The sophisticated mechanism raised an aluminum cabin that masked access to the subterranean factory.
Three high-tech production lines manufactured 5,000 cigarettes per minute using advanced equipment and ventilation systems. The complex included sleeping quarters for 18 people, complete with bathrooms, showers and dining facilities. Authorities seized more than 150 tonnes of contraband tobacco products from what officials called Italy's largest illegal cigarette factory. The operation generated estimated annual profits exceeding 900 million euros while evading 600 million euros in taxes, leading to multiple arrests.
Three high-tech production lines manufactured 5,000 cigarettes per minute using advanced equipment and ventilation systems. The complex included sleeping quarters for 18 people, complete with bathrooms, showers and dining facilities. Authorities seized more than 150 tonnes of contraband tobacco products from what officials called Italy's largest illegal cigarette factory. The operation generated estimated annual profits exceeding 900 million euros while evading 600 million euros in taxes, leading to multiple arrests.
