Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
A massive counterfeit cigarette racket was busted in Alicante.
The gang operated a network that included factories and warehouses to manufacture and distribute the fake cigarettes abroad, as well as for Spanish clients.
Seven people were arrested, and millions of illegal cigarettes along with production line machinery have been seized.
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Late last year, the Guardia Civil launched a joint investigation with the Policia Nacional and the Tax Agency after large quantities cigarette manufacturing material were dumped on a rubbish site in Onil.
Officers located a lorry in the Vega Baja area carrying a shipment of 328,000 cigarette packs.
Seized cigarettes were made and distributed in several warehouses, many of which were exported.
The network was located in Alicante as well as Elche, Mutxamel and Xixona.
The main production was located in a Mutxamel storage facility, where workers stayed overnight.
The search revealed personal effects, beds, and even Vitamin D to compensate for a lack exposure to sunlight.
Five Spaniards, a Columbian and four other nationalities were arrested at Santomera in Murcia, as well in the province of Alicante in San Juan, Aspe Castalla City and Alicante City.
They were charged with crimes against the public health, smuggling of goods, theft of industrial property and organized crime.
Two of the gang’s members were imprisoned by an Elche court, and investigations are still ongoing.
Europol has been involved in the investigation and is not ruling out further arrests, both in Spain as well as abroad.
