• Two people identified as responsible for the factory

• Almost 78 kilos of chopped tobacco, 1,500 kilos of tobacco leaves, two chopping machines, several scales and more than 11,000 euros in cash were seized.

November 15, 2024.- Officials from the Customs Surveillance Service Operational Unit of the Tax Agency in Badajoz and the Fiscal and Border Investigation Analysis Unit (UDAIFF) of the Civil Guard, have dismantled a tobacco slicing factory in Badajoz and have identified two people as responsible for the factory.

The operation began when both bodies began collaborating in the framework of investigations to eradicate points of sale of smuggled chopped tobacco. As a result of this collaboration, at the beginning of November a point of sale of cut tobacco was located in a warehouse located on the Badajoz-Seville highway, where the constant presence of people making purchases was observed.

On November 8, it was decided to carry out the investigation, resulting in the seizure of 77.75 kilos of chopped tobacco and 1,504 kilos of tobacco leaves, which would have a value of 12,300 euros and 105,000 euros respectively. In addition, two mincing machines, several scales and 11,169.25 euros in cash from the sale of chopped meat were found.

The proceedings will be made available to the Regional Customs and Excise Department of the Special Delegation of the Tax Agency in Extremadura, which is responsible for initiating and resolving sanctioning procedures for alleged administrative offences involving tobacco smuggling, smuggling of prohibited goods and Law 11/2021, of 9 July, on measures to prevent and combat tax fraud.

Those responsible face possible fines for tobacco smuggling exceeding 30,000 euros in total, and fines for violations of Law 11/2021 regulating raw tobacco that could amount to more than 60,000 euros.

Raw tobacco is not included among the tobacco products subject to taxation in Spain. The increasing diversion of raw tobacco as a raw material for the clandestine manufacture of tobacco products, included in the scope of the Tax on Tobacco Products, led to the development of legislative innovations for the control of raw tobacco included in the First Additional Provision of Law 11/2021, as well as for the prevention and repression of this type of conduct, where very important sanctions are established for them.

In addition, it is important to point out the risks to public health that come with consuming this type of product, which does not comply with the established health measures and has not been subject to any control during its manufacturing or storage process.