Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• More than 2,500,000 cigarettes in 128,000 packs transported in a semi-trailer truck have been seized, and during one of the searches in an industrial warehouse, almost 5,200 liters of nitrous oxide were seized.

• Seven people have been arrested, six in the province of Alicante and one in the province of Malaga, as members of the criminal organization, of whom five have been placed in pretrial detention. 

October 31, 2025. Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with agents of the National Police, have dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to the international smuggling of tobacco and nitrous oxide. More than 2,500,000 cigarettes being transported in a semi-trailer truck and 5,200 liters of 'laughing gas' were seized during a search of an industrial warehouse in Malaga. Seven people have been arrested, six in Alicante and one in Malaga, as members of the criminal organization, of whom five have been placed in pretrial detention.

The operation began last May in collaboration with the National Police, after a network made up of Eastern European citizens and Spaniards was detected using an international transport company to hide illicit goods among legal cargo.

After several months of surveillance, last September investigators intercepted a truck in the province of Alicante when several members of the network were carrying out unloading work. Inside the semi-trailer, ten pallets were found containing 128,000 packs of contraband tobacco, with a market value of 753,466 euros, representing a tax fraud of more than 575,000 euros. At that moment, six people who were involved in unloading and guarding the vehicle were arrested.

More than 5,000 liters of 'laughing gas'

Simultaneously, in the province of Malaga, the main suspect, the owner of the trucks used by the organization, was arrested. During the search of his home and an industrial warehouse, 2,592 bottles of nitrous oxide, popularly known as 'laughing gas', were found, totaling 5,184 liters. During the operation, 2,100 euros in cash and 40,000 euros in counterfeit bills were also seized.

The investigation revealed that the organization carried out legal transports to France and other Central European countries, which made it difficult to detect. However, the agents observed how on some trips they left gaps inside the trailers to introduce illicit items, later covering them with regular merchandise. The movements of those under investigation were documented using surveillance devices and technical recording equipment provided by Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency, thus confirming the structure and operation of the organization.

Seven arrested, five of them in pretrial detention

The seven arrested were brought before the Duty Courts of Instruction in Alcoy and Malaga, from where five of them were ordered to be held in pretrial detention. The investigation remains open to determine the origin of the seized items and the transport company's connection to other illicit activities internationally.