Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police

• 640 kilos of chopped tobacco were seized inside a van, valued at over 100,000 euros

• Four chopping machines, three vacuum packers, a scale and various materials necessary for tobacco smuggling were seized during a house search in the Diseminado Cristo Marroquí residential area

July 12, 2022.- Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency in Córdoba and agents from the National Police have arrested four people in an operation against tobacco smuggling in the Cordoba town of Lucena and have seized 640 kilos of chopped tobacco, the value of which would exceed 100,000 euros.

The operation, called "Cykar-Marroqui", began last May, when investigators learned of the existence of a chalet, located on the outskirts of Lucena, where tobacco leaf chopping was allegedly being carried out for subsequent sale to third parties over the Internet by express delivery companies. Furthermore, this tobacco would not be subject to the necessary health controls, with the added risk that this would entail for the health of potential consumers.

640 kilos of chopped tobacco inside a van

Once the building was located, investigators detected a large van leaving the building late in the afternoon of June 28. At that point they proceeded to stop him, verifying that inside there were a large number of bags with packaged chopped tobacco. They immediately intervened and arrested the two occupants of the vehicle. The seized tobacco weighed 640 kilos, with an estimated value on the illicit market of 104,500 euros.

Various labels from a courier company were found inside the van, with destinations all over the country, and therefore, presumed reception points for the tobacco to be sent by the detainees.

The property was subsequently raided and searched, where a third person was arrested and four chopping machines, three vacuum packing machines, a scale and various materials necessary for tobacco smuggling were seized, as well as some 30 kilos of pieces of tobacco leaf, the raw material for the chopping that would later be sold.

Following several subsequent efforts, investigators were able to determine the involvement of a fourth person in the events, who was arrested days later.