Document: Organized by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the annual Task Group Cigarettes for 2000 in Visby, Sweden

The phenomenon of cigarette smuggling into the EU is strongly linked to actions by organised criminal rings. Its importance is demonstrated by the quantity of seizures of contraband cigarettes made by the Member States. The annual Task Group Cigarettes meeting, organized by the European Anti-Fraud Office, was held in Visby, Sweden from 9 to 11 November 2000. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss operational measures undertaken in the last year in the fight against cigarette smuggling into the EU and to formulate plans for initiatives/actions for the year ahead.