• Investigators discovered 2,550 packs of cigarettes in his checked luggage, valued at 15,300 euros.

• The detainee came from Gambia via Barcelona

June 30, 2025.- Officials from the Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service, along with Civil Guard officers from the Tax and Border Section at Bilbao Airport, have arrested a passenger for smuggling after discovering 2,550 undeclared packs of tobacco in his checked baggage. The passenger came from Gambia via Barcelona.

The operation was prompted by collaboration between the Civil Guard at El Prat Airport (Barcelona) and their counterparts at Bilbao Airport, due to the possibility that tobacco was being smuggled through the Biscay airport.

Officials from the Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service and Civil Guards, both acting as State Fiscal Guards under the functional authority of the Regional Customs Unit of the Tax Agency in the Basque Country, detected the arrival of the passenger, who did not collect his checked baggage from the belt in the arrivals hall and left the terminal carrying only his hand luggage.

The next day, this person returned to the airport to claim his bags at the airline's lost luggage office. After collecting them, the officers identified the person and proceeded to inspect their luggage.

In total, there were three large suitcases, completely filled with 2,550 packs of cigarettes, valued at €15,300.

The passenger was arrested and accused of committing a crime of tobacco smuggling.