Russia Shuts Down Large Illegal Tobacco Operations in Kaluga, Voronezh and Tver

Kaluga plant managers face charges after raids uncovered about 5 million unmarked packs, 500,000 fake excise stamps.

Overview

FSB, working with the Investigative Committee and Interior Ministry, halted illicit tobacco activity valued at over 560 million rubles across the three regions.
Criminal cases cite storage of unmarked goods, attempted sale of counterfeit excise stamps, tax evasion, and organization of a criminal community, with charges filed against detainees.
In the Kaluga region, authorities say the enterprise produced cigarettes without paying excise, and seized the unmarked packs plus at least 500,000 fake excise stamps from the site and counterparties.
Earlier actions in Voronezh and Tver targeted regional groups engaged in large-scale illegal production, with three cigarette production lines and one packaging line removed from circulation.
Security agencies report 2025 totals of more than 10 million packs seized worth about 3 billion rubles and six units of equipment, with 43 convictions and 117 ongoing investigations.