The Tax Agency seizes 500,000 packets of contraband tobacco, allegedly falsified, in Leganés (Madrid)

• The action is a consequence of “Operation Spring”, aimed at controlling activities in warehouses and commercial and industrial estates.

• Two citizens of Bulgarian origin have been arrested.

Madrid, August 5, 2008. Officials from the Customs and Excise Department of the State Tax Administration Agency have completed a major operation against tobacco smuggling in Madrid.

Last Friday, August 1, during the development of the so-called “Operation Spring” in the Prado Overa Industrial Estate in the Madrid municipality of Leganés, the unloading of container MSKU0086144 was detected, which had entered Spain via the port of Malaga from Yantina (China), declaring it was transporting clothing, merchandise used as a cover or camouflage for smuggled tobacco.

After the first rows of boxes containing clothing and sports equipment, 500,000 packets of contraband cigarettes, a well-known brand, allegedly counterfeit, appeared, whose market value is believed to be more than one and a half million euros.

As a result of these actions, two individuals of Bulgarian nationality with the initials GN were arrested. and BK who are accused of alleged crimes of smuggling and crimes relating to intellectual and industrial property. All the actions taken, the goods seized and the people arrested have been made available to the Investigating Court No. 1 of Leganés, and the investigations are continuing.

Officials from the Deputy Directorate of Customs Surveillance (Customs Department) attached to the Regional Operational Unit of Madrid participated in the operation.