The Guardia Civil has dismantled an alleged criminal organisation dedicated to selling contraband tobacco over the internet across Spain. As part of the operation, officers have arrested three men aged 61, 65, and 67, and a 56-year-old woman in Elche, Alcoy, and Muro de Alcoy.
Officers seized 16,966 packets of tobacco of various brands, valued at over 101,000 euro, as well as 76,100 euro in cash. They also confiscated a handgun and narcotic substances. Furthermore, 19 bank accounts containing an approximate total balance of 60,000 euro and five real estate properties valued at more than 200,000 euro have been frozen.
According to a statement from the armed institute, the suspects are accused of offences including smuggling, crimes against industrial property, illegal possession of weapons, crimes against public health, and belonging to a criminal organisation.
The Judicial Police Unit of Villena and the Investigation Area of Ibi launched the enquiries based on information provided by the Local Police of Cocentaina regarding a woman who was allegedly selling tobacco via a social network.
Initial investigations confirmed that the suspect dispatched the goods through courier companies using cash-on-delivery services to various locations across Spain, with more than 30 shipments recorded by the Guardia Civil.
During one of these deliveries, officers intercepted a hundred packets of tobacco lacking tax stamps. Analysis of the shipments also revealed that the suspect allegedly used the personal details of elderly, vulnerable relatives who were entirely unaware of the activity to list them as the senders of the packages. However, one of her brothers was actively involved in the sales and is amongst those detained.
Comparisons with other seizures made in the region indicate that the intercepted tobacco likely originated from an illicit factory dismantled by the Guardia Civil in Muro de Alcoy in 2025, as the identifying features on the packets matched.
Further progress in the investigation allowed officers to identify the suppliers allegedly supplying the woman—two men residing in Elche—and establish the structure of the organisation.
Searches
Following the enquiries, officers conducted six searches across four properties in Alcoy, a site in Elche carried out with the collaboration of the Local Police, and another in Muro de Alcoy involving a property with an attached industrial unit, alongside two garages.
During these raids, officers confiscated 16,966 packets of commercial tobacco brands valued at over 101,000 euro and 76,100 euro in cash. Inside the home with the adjoining industrial unit, officers also seized a handgun, a frequency jammer, and various narcotic substances, including cocaine and hashish.
The Guardia Civil noted that the operation additionally led to the freezing of 19 bank accounts holding roughly 60,000 euro, as well as five properties valued at over 200,000 euro.
The four detainees were brought before the Civil and Investigative Section of the Instancia Court of Alcoy on duty, which ordered their release subject to precautionary measures.
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