Over 325 kg of contraband hookah tobacco seized

Turin - A forty-year-old of Moroccan origins arrested

The soldiers of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Turin arrested a forty-year-old of Moroccan origins found in possession of over 325 kilograms of hookah tobacco, without the required indications imposed to protect the consumer, as well as the State Monopolies mark, mandatory for all products subject to excise duty.

The activity started from the stop of a van, carried out by a patrol of the 2nd Turin Metropolitan Operations Unit, in the Borgo Nuovo district, in the context of services oriented towards the economic control of the territory. Following inspection, the presence of 260 kg was ascertained inside the vehicle. about tobacco, cleverly hidden under old furnishings and upholstery.

The resulting investigations led to the identification of a real factory, located in an apartment in the municipality of Alba (CN).

The subsequent search of the aforementioned premises then led to the discovery of a further 65 kilograms of contraband hookah tobacco, already packaged and probably destined for private clubs in the Piedmontese capital (the well-known "shisha bars"), production machinery, including mixers, packaging equipment, as well as large quantities of the necessary raw materials (and, in particular, flavourings, raw tobacco and various cans of glycerin food, component - the latter - essential for the correct combustion of tobacco).

This resulted in the entire production chain of the product being seized.

The tobacco, if placed on the market, would have earned the subject an illicit profit of over 40,000.00 euros, with the evasion of excise duty amounting to 23,000 euros.

The man was arrested and associated with the "Lo Russo e Cutugno" prison in the capital and will now have to answer - without prejudice to the presumption of innocence until his responsibilities are fully ascertained - for smuggling of foreign manufactured tobacco, as well as for the sale of industrial products with counterfeit brands and receiving stolen goods.

The intervention demonstrates the commitment made by the Financial Police to combat the phenomenon of smuggling, for the protection of tax revenues and the health of consumers.

Last update: 11-08-2026, 08:31