From: Prague Daily Monitor
Prague, Oct 4 (CTK) – Czech police have uncovered a group of foreigners who have allegedly produced fake cigarettes and also imported them from Asia, police spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej told CTK Thursday.
Twelve people face tax evasion charges, Ibehej said.
Financial crime investigators have estimated the damage at 55 million crowns, he added.
The defendants produced the cigarettes with machines and delivered them to the Czech market, Ibehej said.
The detectives found almost 1,000 grown-up marihuana plants and illegally held firearms in home searches, he added.
“We have seized 7 million crowns in cash within the investigation,” Ibehej said.
Besides, the police confiscated tobacco products that would cause a damage of 300 million crowns in consumer tax evasion if placed on the market, Ibehej said.
“However, as the preparation for a criminal act of tax evasion and similar acts is no longer punishable under the new penal code, the persons in question cannot be prosecuted or convicted,” Ibehej said.
