Europol has announced that authorities from seven countries arrested 18 people of different nationalities suspected of money laundering and illegal tobacco trade, Reuters reported.

Police have uncovered an international organised crime group which was involved in the large-scale illegal trade of tobacco, according to the report.
In a statement, Europol commented on the criminal organisation, saying, “During an action day, coordinated at Eurojust, 18 persons from different nationalities have been arrested, who are suspected of money laundering and the illegal trade and storage of around 670.000 kilos of tobacco.”
A total of 29 searches have taken place in Italy, Poland, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, mainly in the south eastern province of Limburg. Authorities from Romania and Cyprus have contributed actively to the operation, the report said.