Foreigners ran Czech illegal tobacco plant

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, July 17 (UPI) -- Czech customs officers said they arrested six illegal immigrants who operated a clandestine tobacco plant producing cigarettes for the British market.

The illegal cigarette factory at Chvalovice, outside Prague, was the 12th similar plant discovered since the Czech Republic became a member of the European Union in 2004, Miroslav Novacek, an official of the Czech customs directorate, told reporters Friday.

The six foreigners, who stayed in the country illegally, were suspected of committing tax evasion amounting to nearly $710,000.

In a raid on the plant, customs officers seized 620,000 cigarettes and 16,100 pounds of tobacco.

No further details about the case were immediately available, the Ceske Noviny daily said.