A court in Västmanland, Sweden has convicted six individuals—five men and one woman—of serious tax offenses linked to a tobacco smuggling ring that was uncovered in September 2025 across various towns, including Arboga and Köping. Four of the convicted men received a one-year prison sentence, and two of them, who hold Palestinian citizenship, will also face deportation from Sweden. The operation involved the clandestine manufacture and sale of water pipe tobacco from a basement in Arboga, where the defendants allegedly evaded taxes on their sales.

During the trial, the prosecution claimed that the defendants had produced and sold an estimated ten tons of tobacco without paying taxes. However, the court found insufficient evidence for this claim, determining that the actual amount was closer to one ton. The court's ruling emphasized that this operation was pursued on a commercial scale, indicating a deliberate effort to evade tax obligations crucial for government revenue. The prosecutors sought the expulsion of all involved but the court chose only to expel the two men lacking permanent residency.

The convicts denied any wrongdoing, though one man acknowledged producing tobacco solely for personal use. This case highlights the ongoing challenges Sweden faces with regards to tax evasion and illegal tobacco trade, and raises questions about the effectiveness of enforcement measures in preventing such underground economies from thriving.