Tabaqueira donated a new operational vehicle and two police dogs specialized in detecting illicit tobacco products to the National Republican Guard (GNR). The handover took place on September 14th at the GNR Intervention Unit headquarters in Pontinha, Lisbon, under the Cooperation Protocol between the two entities, formalized in 2020.
The two new dogs, Rola and Remi, are Dutch Shepherd dogs and have been specifically trained to detect the odor of tobacco products. They will join the Canine Unit of the Porto Territorial Command, forming teams with military handlers.
The new vehicle is intended for the transport and operational support of these teams, reinforcing their capacity for intervention in the field.
Regarding the illicit trade in tobacco products, Marcelo Nico, general director of Tabaqueira, emphasizes that " this scourge can only be effectively combated with adequate resources on the ground, and strengthening the GNR's canine unit capacity is a direct investment in the operational effectiveness of the authorities and in the protection of the legal market ."
More than 2,4 million cigarettes seized
Since 2023, the Canine Intervention Group (GIC) of the GNR (National Republican Guard) has carried out 53 operations related to the illicit tobacco trade. According to data released by Tabaqueira, these actions resulted in the seizure of 2.411.368 cigarettes, 106 kilograms of shredded tobacco, and 74,8 kilograms of tobacco leaves.
Within the framework of the cooperation protocol, Tabaqueira has already donated to the GNR (National Republican Guard) a scanner for tobacco detection, six police dogs specifically trained to detect the odor of tobacco, and three vehicles.
The cooperation also includes annual training activities in the Tax Course for Sergeants and Guards, the authentication and analysis of samples of illicit products to support GNR investigations, technical support for the disposal of seized products of PMI brands, and the sharing of specialized knowledge on illicit trade.
According to the latest KPMG report on illicit cigarette consumption in Europe, Portugal will account for 2,7% of total consumption by 2025, equivalent to approximately 220 million illegal cigarettes. The estimated impact on tax revenue amounts to €45 million.
This performance contrasts with the European Union average, which reached 10,3%, the highest value since 2014.
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