TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Police Agency's Third Special Police Corps reported it had raided a large cigarette factory in Taichung’s Fengyuan District on Tuesday (July 2).

During the raid, it confiscated 10,36 kg of processed tobacco that could be made into 760,000 packs of illicit cigarettes, with a market value of over NT$71.7 million (US$2.2 million), and potential lost tax revenue of NT$4 million.

Police arrested the main suspect in the case, surnamed Tsai (蔡), and an accomplice, surnamed Ma (馬). Additionally, five Indonesian laborers were found to be illegally employed, either by overstaying or leaving their contracted place of employment, per CNA.

Police said they received information earlier this year that Tsai was manufacturing and selling illegal cigarettes from a remote factory in Taichung. It formed a task force that tracked the operations for four months. 

The task force learned the group used domestic tobacco leaves, cutting them into shreds, and later adding them to imported tobacco leaf scraps to make a blend. The group then made cigarettes with the blend to sell. 

Police note that illegal cigarettes are often substandard in quality and may contain harmful chemicals and excessive levels of tar and nicotine. Despite a cheaper price, the public is urged to only purchase legal cigarettes.

According to the provisions of the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Act, the illegal production and sale of cigarettes could result in a maximum fine of NT$10 million.