In Belgium, a hidden cigarette factory was shut down on Wednesday, September 9, after Belgian customs officers discovered it at 6 a.m. The factory, located in a commercial area about an hour from France, was involved in large-scale illegal production, including drying tobacco, manufacturing cigarettes, and packaging them. During the operation, authorities seized four and a half million cigarettes. The factory reportedly produced over 1.3 million cigarettes daily, operating nonstop for seven days a week. Eleven individuals were arrested, all of whom were workers living and working at the site. The facility had separate rooms for Ukrainian and Polish workers, with all windows blocked to prevent anyone from seeing the illegal operations inside. The site also had kitchen facilities, restrooms, and even weight benches, indicating that workers were kept on-site to prevent them from leaving. This setup suggests the factory aimed to keep its operations hidden while maintaining a semblance of living conditions for the workers. Florence Angelici, a spokesperson for Belgian customs, said the factory was part of a well-organized network. Some of the workers had been previously arrested in other countries for similar offenses. Since the start of the year, 12 clandestine cigarette manufacturing sites have been discovered in Belgium, the highest number recorded. These illegal operations are part of a broader smuggling network that affects multiple European countries. The counterfeit cigarettes were intended for sale in various markets, including France, Belgium, Britain, and Denmark. On the black market, a carton of illegal cigarettes was sold for 40 euros, much cheaper than the 100 euros charged for legal cigarettes in French tobacco offices. Authorities also identified smuggling operations where drivers would buy cheap tobacco in Luxembourg and resell it in France for profit. In the past year, Belgian authorities have seized 203 million cigarettes, resulting in a loss of 97 million euros for the country’s tax authorities. Alain Quintin, a customs control officer, noted that while fines for such activities can be as high as ten times the value of the stolen goods, these penalties have not been effective in deterring traffickers. The ongoing efforts to combat cigarette smuggling highlight the persistent challenge of illegal trade across European borders.