Four Men Charged After 30,000 Illegal Cigarettes Seized in Dumfries

Four individuals, three Brazilian men and a woman living in Dublin, were remanded in custody on charges related to an international investigation into organized prostitution, brothel keeping, and money laundering. The operation involved Europol, Brazilian Federal Police, and the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, with alleged crime proceeds ranging from €29,000 to over €1.6 million. Separately, in Dumfries, Scotland, four men were charged after police seized over 30,000 suspected illegal cigarettes, 15kg of rolling tobacco, and £8,000 in cash during a raid on a High Street property. This seizure follows a previous recovery of illegal tobacco worth approximately £3.5 million in July, with investigations led by HMRC and involving local authorities. Police Scotland emphasized their commitment to targeting organized crime related to illegal tobacco supply and urged the public to provide information. Both cases highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat organized crime and illegal activities in their respective regions.