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Italy uncovers largest underground factory producing contraband cigarettes
Italian customs police announced the dismantling of the country’s largest clandestine cigarette factory, hidden in a sophisticated underground bunker near Cassino, southeast of Rome. Authorities seized more than 150 tonnes of contraband cigarettes and uncovered a vast production site capable of manufacturing around 7 million cigarettes per day, equivalent to 2.7 billion annually.
The factory, covering 1,600 square meters, was accessible only through a hydraulic mechanism that concealed the entrance. Inside, investigators found advanced machinery capable of producing up to 5,000 cigarettes per minute, along with ventilation systems designed to prevent smoke from escaping.
The bunker also housed makeshift living quarters with 18 beds, bathrooms, showers, and a dining area, suggesting that workers were permanently stationed on-site. An additional workshop allowed for immediate maintenance and repair of the production equipment.
Authorities estimate the factory’s annual turnover at more than €900 million, with tax losses amounting to approximately €600 million. The value of the seized installation itself was set at €1.7 million. So far, one arrest has been made and several individuals denounced in connection with the investigation, which remains ongoing.