The seizures involved both passenger traffic and international freight, confirming Luxembourg’s role as a key transit point for criminal networks.
In the passenger terminal, customs officers intercepted more than 552,000 illegally imported cigarettes over the course of the year. Those arrested had mainly arrived via Istanbul and originated from Eastern Europe or the South Caucasus. They were acting as couriers, recruited to transport the tobacco to various European countries. According to the Customs and Excise Agency, the interceptions prevented a tax shortfall of almost €168,000.
The most significant seizure, however, occurred in the cargo sector. In November, officers uncovered a shipment transiting from the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom. Although officially declared as electronic equipment, the consignment actually contained 2.4 million cigarettes distributed across eight pallets. Of the 256 boxes seized, 224 were found to contain contraband tobacco exclusively.
This operation prevented substantial tax losses in the United Kingdom, while the revenue loss avoided for Luxembourg is estimated at around €735,000.
Luxembourg’s customs authorities remind that Findel remains a strategic logistical hub for traffickers, but reassured that international cooperation and targeted inspections continue to disrupt such criminal activities.
