Law enforcement officers in Kaunas, Lithuania, have raided and dismantled a high-tech illegal factory producing counterfeit nicotine pouches intended for international distribution.

The joint operation, triggered by intelligence from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and executed by the Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service (Muitinės kriminalinė tarnyba-MKT), netted over 330,000 boxes featuring copied trademarks of well-known manufacturers.

Investigators also discovered raw nicotine on the premises. Classified as an acutely toxic substance, the material poses significant health risks if handled without strict safety controls.

Beyond the packaged inventory, authorities seized roughly 30 variations of nicotine pouches spanning multiple flavors and strength levels. The raid uncovered large volumes of bulk liquids, raw materials, and finished but unlabelled pouches ready for packaging.

Investigators believe the clandestine facility operated as a key supply hub, shipping fake products across Scandinavia, the Baltic region, and the United Arab Emirates.

Counterfeit operations tap into a rapidly expanding European market for alternative nicotine products. Because these illicit goods skip regulated supply chains, they escape mandatory safety checks while infringing on legitimate intellectual property rights.

“This is an exemplary case of how OLAF’s work turns information into action,” said OLAF Director-General Petr Klement. “When counterfeiters copy well-known brands, they are not only stealing their name but also taking advantage of consumers’ trust. Illicit nicotine products can then reach people without the safety checks that apply to legitimate products. By identifying suspicious activities and sharing intelligence with partners, we help disrupt these illegal networks before they could cause further harm to European citizens and economy.”

Key Details of the Seizure

• Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
• Seized inventory: Over 330,000 packaged boxes across 30 distinct product types
• Target markets: Scandinavian countries, Baltic states, and the United Arab Emirates
• Primary risks: Unregulated handling of toxic bulk nicotine and intellectual property infringement