China police nab 41 suspects in illegal cigarette racket that spanned nearly a dozen provinces
Gang used sophisticated techniques to elude authorities, including cellphone and bank accounts registered to fake names and coded language, making a reported 120m yuan through fake tobacco products
After two years tracking a counterfeit cigarette gang, authorities swooped on sites in 11 provinces, arresting 41 suspects, a mainland newspaper reports.
The authorities said the gang was well organised, often switching phones and locations, making the raids extremely difficult to mount, according to Chinese Business View.
Investigators believe the network was responsible for producing cigarettes valued at more than 120 million yuan.
The underground operation came to light in 2011 when officers arrested a retailer in a county in Shaanxi province, the report said.
Based on further investigation in the county and Xian, the police launched a two-year undercover operation, which eventually led them to a second retailer, a woman, working out of the capital and trailed her for two years.
