The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) provided intelligence that led Lithuanian authorities to raid and shut down a large-scale counterfeit nicotine pouch factory in Kaunas, Lithuania. Over 330,000 boxes of fake pouches were seized — along with raw materials including nicotine classified as acutely toxic.

This is the first major EU-level enforcement action targeting counterfeit nicotine pouch production, and it reveals the scale of the illicit trade now operating outside any regulated supply chain.

What they found

The factory was fully operational and sophisticated: complete manufacturing, packaging, and labelling lines copying the trademarks of well-known nicotine pouch brands.

Authorities seized:

• More than 330,000 boxes of counterfeit nicotine pouches
• 30 different types across various flavors and nicotine strengths
• Significant quantities of finished but unlabeled pouches
• Raw materials including liquids, bulk substances, and acutely toxic nicotine

The operation began when OLAF identified signs of illegal manufacturing and shared findings with the Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service (MKT), which executed the raid.

Where the fakes were headed

The factory is believed to have supplied markets in Scandinavia, the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), and the United Arab Emirates — all regions with established nicotine pouch demand.

Scandinavian and Baltic markets are among the most mature for nicotine pouches globally, making them prime targets for counterfeiters looking to exploit consumer trust in known brands.

Why this matters

Counterfeit nicotine pouches are produced entirely outside regulated manufacturing standards. No safety checks. No quality control. No oversight of nicotine content accuracy.

OLAF Director-General Petr Klement framed the issue as both a consumer safety and intellectual property problem: "When counterfeiters copy well-known brands, they are not only stealing their name but also taking advantage of consumers' trust. Illicit nicotine products can reach people without the safety checks that apply to legitimate products."

The presence of acutely toxic nicotine as a raw material underscores the risk: improper handling or dosing during unregulated production could result in products with dangerously high or inconsistent nicotine levels.

This bust follows growing industry concern about black market nicotine pouches. The Nicokick/Haypp 2026 market report highlighted an expanding illicit trade in US nicotine pouches, driven by regulatory gaps and cross-border demand.

What happens next

Lithuanian authorities are continuing their investigation. OLAF's role in providing cross-border intelligence signals that EU enforcement agencies are now actively targeting counterfeit nicotine pouch networks.

For consumers: if you're buying pouches from unofficial channels, gray-market resellers, or suspiciously cheap sources, you have no way to verify what's actually in the product.

For the industry: this bust may prompt calls for stronger supply chain verification and enforcement coordination across EU member states.

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SOURCES:
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) — Press Release No 18/2026

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