Seized 53 tons of tobacco leaves hidden in a warehouse for their subsequent illegal sale


Seized 53 tons of tobacco leaves hidden in a warehouse for their subsequent illegal sale

The general director of the Civil Guard, María Gámez, has presented in Mérida the details of the MOSTAGANEN operation, in which a network that supplied and distributed contraband tobacco cuttings and leaves was dismantled, presumably for subsequent illegal sale and conversion in "tube cigarettes"

Four members of the network have been arrested in Lobón (Badajoz) for the alleged crimes of tobacco smuggling, against the Public Treasury and belonging to an organized group

About 38 million cigarettes could be obtained from the seized tobacco

This is one of the largest snuff-cut arrests in Extremadura

The general director of the Civil Guard, María Gámez, presented this morning together with agents of the Civil Guard, the Tax Agency and the Local Police of Mérida, the details of the MOSTAGANEN operation. With this action, a network that supplied and distributed contraband tobacco cuttings and leaves has been dismantled, presumably for their subsequent illegal sale and conversion into “tube cigarettes”.

Four people have been arrested, residents of Mérida (Badajoz), who had hidden in a warehouse in the Badajo town of Lobón 53 tons of smuggled tobacco leaves and flavoring substances used to treat tobacco.
María Gámez stressed that it is one of the largest operations carried out in Extremadura against smuggling and illicit sale of tobacco leaves and cuttings.
"With this type of criminal action, not only is there a damage to the public finances necessary for our maintenance as a country, but it also avoids the risk to health because these products do not have any sanitary guarantee."
Finally, Gámez added that the Civil Guard works intensely to control smuggling, proof of this is the apprehension at the national level of more than 3,500,000 packs of smuggled tobacco. Also, so far in 2020 more than 5,500,000 packs of tobacco have been intervened.
The investigation began after detecting the illicit circulation and sale of smuggled snuff, in which similar patterns were found, linked to the movements of a group of people settled in the province of Badajoz and Madrid, with antecedents for similar events.
After establishing a surveillance device, the agents discovered in Lobón a warehouse used by the group, where the chopped tobacco and leaf were stored, which supposedly would be destined for its illegal sale and conversion of this product with flavorings into “tube cigarettes”.
With the location of the property in the industrial area of ​​the municipality and the identity of the owner of the same, who had the rented warehouse, the registry of this was carried out, where 265 cardboard boxes containing 53,100 kilos of shredded tobacco leaf were seized and minced, which lacked any fiscal and sanitary control, as well as flavoring products for tobacco.
During the exploitation of the operation, four of the members of the network were arrested, and efforts are continuing to locate and arrest the other two who allegedly have fled Spain, as well as to know the origin and exact destination of the seized tobacco , of which some 38 million cigarettes could be obtained.
Those now detained, who were placed at the disposal of the Montijo Investigating Court, are charged with the alleged crimes of tobacco smuggling, against the Public Treasury and belonging to an organized group.
The operation has been carried out by agents belonging to the Fiscal Area of ​​the Badajoz Civil Guard Post, by Customs Surveillance officials of the Badajoz State Tax Administration Agency and by members of the Merida Local Police.

Other operations

During 2020, numerous operations have been carried out against tobacco smuggling in Extremadura, among which is the one carried out in Badajoz, in which 1,600 kilos of smuggled tobacco were intervened and two residents of Córdoba were arrested.
Likewise, in the El Nevero industrial estate (Badajoz) agents of the Civil Guard and the Tax Agency intervened in the shipment of 6 cardboard boxes containing 102 kilos of contraband tobacco.
In Lobón (Badajoz), 228,000 packs of tobacco hidden in a warehouse were intervened and one person was arrested for a crime of tobacco smuggling.
Operation TRES REYES resulted in the arrest of two residents of Alburquerque (Badajoz) who were engaged in the illegal marketing of tobacco.
On the other hand, in the VIDIX operation, a person was arrested in Torremejías (Badajoz) when he was transporting 100 kilos of tobacco cut in his vehicle lacking seals and markings.
Finally, in the TRASTEX operation, a clandestine point was dismantled for the chopping, manufacturing, distribution and sale of tobacco cuttings in a house and in a storage room in Badajoz.

separator



Source of new

/by