OLAF-led Joint Customs Operation NOXIA II delivers major results against the illicit trade of dangerous substances

In a press release dated 30/10/2025, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) highlights the success of a large-scale joint Customs operation conducted by the Customs administrations of 40 partner countries in Asia and Europe under the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), with the support of the World Customs Organization (WCO). Operation NOXIA II targeted shipments suspected of containing illicit cigarettes, waste, drug precursors, and pesticides.

Seventeen countries from the Asia-Pacific region took part in the operation: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China (mainland and Hong Kong SAR), India, Kazakhstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam; and twenty-two EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, together with the United Kingdom.

Among the notable interventions made during the operation were seizure of over 105 tonnes of tobacco, the equivalent of almost 150 million cigarettes, more than 223,000 e-cigarettes and 114 litres of e-liquids. The NOXIA II operation revealed the use of sophisticated global routes to smuggle cigarettes into the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The smuggling of cigarettes via sea containers remains the main threat, given the low risk it presents compared with the high illicit profits derived from the trafficking of large volumes of cigarettes. Other global trends detected include the use of dark vessels, air freight, e-commerce, and postal parcels.

The Duty Free World Council fully supports all efforts to eliminate Illicit trade and congratulates OLAF and its international partners on the success of the NOXIA II operation. We encourage governments across the world to devote time and resources to crack down on the major sources of illicit trade in tobacco products by closing down illicit production facilities and this type of cross border smuggling by criminal gangs.

https://olaf-led-joint-customs-operation-noxia-ii-delivers-major-results-against-illicit-trade