• The suspect was carrying the contraband tobacco in a van that pretended to be from a transport company in an attempt to go unnoticed.

• The packs containing the cigarettes were counterfeit and lacked tax seals.

April 11, 2025.- Customs Surveillance Officers of the Tax Agency and agents belonging to the Fiscal and Border Patrol of the Civil Guard of Algarrobo (Málaga), in a joint operation, have seized 37,490 packs of contraband tobacco in the province of Málaga, with an official value of more than 224,000 euros.

The operation took place on February 27th when, as a result of ongoing surveillance in the Vélez-Málaga area due to suspicions of illegal goods being transported, a van was detected traveling on the A-7 motorway toward Almería, bearing the name of a major parcel delivery company.

After conducting the necessary checks, it was concluded that the vehicle's owner, a Romanian citizen residing in Almería, had no ties to the company.

Once the vehicle was intercepted, 37,490 packs of contraband cigarettes were found inside. Investigators proceeded to seize them after verifying that they were counterfeit and lacked tax seals.

Possession of this type of tobacco product may constitute a crime of smuggling, according to Organic Law 12/1995, of December 12, on the Repression of Smuggling, and against industrial property, as defined in the Criminal Code.

The proceedings have been made available to the First Instance and Investigation Court No. 1 of Torrox (Málaga), which will handle the case. Legal action has been taken against the driver and the owner of the vehicle, both of Romanian nationality. The tobacco and the vehicle remain seized.

The operation was carried out by the Malaga Customs Surveillance Operational Unit of the Tax Agency and the PAFIF group of the Civil Guard in Algarrobo (Malaga).