Police Discover Tons of Water Pipe Tobacco Materials in Eastern Slovakia Operation

Police uncovered large quantities of raw materials used for manufacturing water pipe tobacco during Operation Melasa in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia. The seized materials would have resulted in tax evasion exceeding one million euros if processed and sold without proper taxation. The operation appears to target illegal tobacco production, which has become a significant source of tax revenue loss for Slovak authorities. Water pipe tobacco, also known as shisha, is subject to excise taxes that manufacturers were apparently attempting to avoid through this illegal operation.