Officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBS) have seized an illegal cigarette plant in Lazy, near Warsaw, thought to be the biggest contraband cigarette facility in Europe, to date.

Thirty two people - including Polish, Lithuanian and Bulgarian citizens - were detained  by law enforcement agents.

Sixteen of them have been arrested under criminal charges.

Over five million cigarettes and 15 tons of tobacco have been confiscated on the factory and another 35 tons were found in a warehouse in nearby Piaseczno on the outskirts of the capital.

The illegally produced cigarettes were to be smuggled to countries of Western Europe. It is estimated the Polish treasury has lost at least 25 million zloty in taxes (over 6 million euro) as a result of this one criminal operation alone. (ss)