Seven Vietnamese arrested for cigarette tax fraud

The Czech police have cracked down on a group of Vietnamese involved in illegal production and distribution of cigarettes in the Czech Republic and Germany. A special unit seized 9.5 million cigarettes, 15 tons of tobacco, several hundred thousand cigarette stamps, seven cars and three million crowns in cash when detaining the suspects. The group allegedly shipped raw tobacco leaves from Vietnam and China and operated a secret production line in the Czech Republic which could put out 2,500 cigarettes per minute. Some were sold in the Czech Republic, the rest smuggled to Germany. Seven Vietnamese nationals have been charged with tax fraud.