Joint operation by Spanish Tax Agency and National Police

Gang smuggling tobacco out of Gibraltar dismantled

2015.2.20

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18 people were arrested as part of the operation as the alleged offenders of smuggling offences and belonging to a criminal organisation, and 18 properties were searched in the towns of La Línea de la Concepción and San Roque.

Furthermore, 65,000 packets of tobacco were seized, three rigid-hulled boats, three inflatable boats, two small arms, various vehicles, sophisticated transmitters and 100,000 euros in cash.

As part of their action plan to combat money laundering, the Tax Agency initiated investigations in relation to this organisation. It also verified that, within the framework of the "Police Plan to Combat Human Trafficking", implemented by the Directorate General of Police, a series of investigations had been initiated on various criminal organisations engaged in this form of criminal activity and illegal immigration. During the course of the investigations carried out, it was observed that one of these criminal gangs mainly focused its criminal activities on tobacco smuggling. From that point on the investigations were carried on a joint basis.

The operation commenced by uncovering a plot involving tobacco smuggling. It was seen that the members formed part of a very well organised gang, with many vessels registered in the name of different people. By using these vessels, the members of the gang were able to bring a very large number of packs of tobacco out of Gibraltar on an almost nightly basis.

As the investigation progressed, it could be seen that the size of the organisation and the degree of sophistication was greater than originally thought. In fact, many of them had previously been arrested for hashish trafficking.

Organised in "collas"

The officers detected that those under investigation were organised in small groups or "collas", with each one in possession of various small vessels to unload the merchandise. They also discovered that they acquired the tobacco wholesale from stockists in Gibraltar who sold it illegally. These "collas" acted independently, but shared members undertaking surveillance work, strategically placed along the coast of the Campo de Gibraltar. In a similar manner, they exchanged resources to unload boats, trailers and cars, and sometimes even shared "nurseries", as the warehouses used to store the contraband are colloquially known.

As regards the method of transporting the tobacco, the officers ascertained that each night, before going out to sea, those in charge of counter-surveillance checked the exact position of the prevention units of the Tax Agency and the Guardia Civil, using sophisticated transmitters. They also ascertained that all the transportation operations took place in the early hours of the morning, ending at dawn once all the merchandise was stored away in their various warehouses. With the exception of very stormy weather, bad weather did not tend to be an obstacle to their criminal activities as they were supplied with professional sailing gear and thermal clothing.

As regards the sale of tobacco, they ascertained that they made arrangements to adjust their prices, while always remaining alert to fluctuations in the price of origin, exchange rates between the pound sterling and the US dollar and price trends in Spain. The investigations revealed that they could obtain some 150,000 packs a week, a highly significant quantity, which could amount to some 7.5 million packs per year.

Once the identities and whereabouts of the members of the gang were discovered, an extensive team was set up to proceed to their arrest and the search of properties and warehouses used in their operations. This operation resulted in the arrest of 18 people, the search of 18 properties in the towns of La Línea de la Concepción (16) and San Roque (2), in Cadiz. 65,000 packs of tobacco were also seized, together with three rigid-hulled boats, three inflatable boats, two small arms, various vehicles, sophisticated transmitters and 100,000 euros in cash.

The operation was carried out by Customs Surveillance Operating Units of the Tax Agency, the Central Brigade for Combating Human Trafficking of the General Commissariat of Immigration and Border Control, the Central Unit of Illegal Immigration Networks and Documentary Forgeries of La Línea de la Concepción, Police Intervention Units from Seville and Malaga, the Response Operating Group, the Special Unit of Canine Guides and the Local Forensic Brigade of La Línea de la Concepción.