Combating tobacco smuggling

• One person has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the events
• The value of the seized tobacco exceeds 73,000 euros

May 19, 2023.- Customs Surveillance Officers of the Tax Agency proceeded on May 9 in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) to seize more than 16,000 packs of cigarettes of various commercial brands and to arrest one person as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of smuggling.

In the operation carried out against tobacco smuggling from Campo de Gibraltar, a surveillance and monitoring device was deployed after which it was possible to identify both the vehicle used for transport and the warehouse in the town of Jerez where the contraband was hidden.

Subsequently, Customs Surveillance investigators proceeded to immediately arrest the driver of the vehicle as the alleged perpetrator of a crime of smuggling and to seize the tobacco found inside the vehicle and in the warehouse.

The value of the seized tobacco products exceeds 73,000 euros, with 15,000 euros being the limit established by law to differentiate the crime from the administrative offence of smuggling when this type of tobacco product is involved.

Once the operation was over, both the detainee and the seized tobacco were transferred to the Customs Surveillance facilities in Jerez in order to formalize the relevant proceedings.

All the actions, vehicle, effects and merchandise seized, together with the detainee were made available to the Court of Instruction on duty in Jerez de la Frontera.

This action is part of the control plan established by the Tax Agency in the fight against smuggling.