Tobacco haul seized at Almeria port

GUARDIA CIVIL officers have seized almost 3,500 packs of cigarettes in a massive haul at Almeria Port during a routine inspection. 

The cigarettes were found in a vehicle travelling from North Africa. The stash of 3,433 packets was discovered during an inspection of two vehicles that had entered the Nothing to Declare queue. 

Hidden in panels in the sides and base of one vehicle were 1,883 Marlboro branded packets of cigarettes, and 1,550 packets were located in three suitcases in the other. The passengers were arrested immediately for smuggling offences.

The cigarettes were valued at €16,468 and come as the first major haul by officers in Almeria in 2015. During 2014, 31 seizures were made entailing a total of 7,818 packets of tobacco products of different brands.