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Massive seizure of counterfeit tobacco in Alicante
The international gang had warehouses in Mutxamel, Xixona, Elche and Alicante
A major criminal network accused of manufacturing and distributing counterfeit tobacco across Spain and beyond has been taken down in a joint operation involving the National Police, the Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency’s Customs Surveillance Unit.
The bust, which also included agents from Orihuela and Callosa de Segura, led to the arrest of seven suspects and the seizure of more than 328,000 packs of fake tobacco, along with industrial machinery and production materials.
The investigation began back in November 2024, when Onil Local Police stumbled upon a suspicious stash of tobacco and packaging materials at a recycling centre. That tip-off set off a wide-ranging probe, culminating in the interception of a truck loaded with counterfeit cigarettes and the discovery of a sprawling network of illegal factories operating out of warehouses in Mutxamel, Xixona, Elche and Alicante.Officers seized 100 pallets of chopped tobacco, 10,000 litres of glue, branded paper reels and other materials used to produce fake cigarettes. In the Mutxamel facility, agents even found makeshift living quarters for workers, complete with beds and vitamin D supplements, likely due to the lack of sunlight.
The investigation has resulted in the arrest of seven people, five men of Spanish nationality, between 33 and 69 years old, a man of Bulgarian nationality, 45 years old and a man of Colombian nationality, 24 years old. The men are facing charges including smuggling, public health violations and organised crime. Two have already been sent to prison.The operation, backed by EUROPOL and involving GRECO Levante and EDOA Alicante, is still active, with more arrests potentially on the horizon both in Spain and abroad.
Images: Policia Nacional
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