Spanish police make huge haul of contraband tobacco ‘smuggled in from Gibraltar’

Guardia Civil seized more than 22,000 unmarked packs of tobacco during a major antismuggling campaign in Los Barrios in Cadiz Province.

Two people have been arrested for suspected tobacco smuggling. Both suspects have extensive criminal histories.

The tobacco may have come from Gibraltar where it was delivered illegally by boat from Africa.

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The operation was conducted in two distinct phases.

In the first phase of the investigation, Guardia Civil agents detected a suspicious vehicle loaded heavily with contraband tobacco.

The car was discreetly tracked to a nearby plot where the officers saw the driver unloading a number of boxes that were wrapped in black plastic.

The police quickly moved in to arrest the driver. 

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They found 36 large cartons of tobacco, but none had tax seals and no documentation to prove their legal origin.

A second person was arrested in similar circumstances during the second phase. 

This follow-up operation revealed additional boxes of tobacco that were unlabelled and not taxed.

The total number of illegal tobacco packets seized was more than 22,000. Authorities estimate the black-market value of the haul to be over €110,000.

Both suspects are in custody. They will likely be brought to trial for their alleged involvement.