National Police officers have arrested a man in the province of Alicante for his alleged involvement in offences against smuggling laws and industrial property. The suspect was driving a large lorry transporting a major cargo of illegal tobacco, totalling 255,000 illegal packets.
The events occurred when National Police officers belonging to the Citizen Security Brigade of the Benidorm police station were travelling towards the town of Dénia to provide assistance and intervene in emergency situations caused by storm Alice.
During the journey, the officers observed a large lorry stopped on the hard shoulder of the motorway, creating a clear hazard to traffic, as reported by headquarters in a statement.
Upon stopping to assist the driver and ensure road safety, the driver became extremely nervous and gave inconsistent answers regarding his destination and the cargo he was carrying. He even stated that he was carrying napkins, whereas the consignment note indicated other products.
Given the discrepancies in his explanations and the documentation provided, the officers inspected the trailer. They discovered 17 pallets hidden beneath black plastic film and filled with illegal packets of tobacco.
The final count revealed a total seizure of 255,000 packets, corresponding to 5,100,000 cigarettes, with an economic value amounting to €1,440,750, a figure exceeding the legal limit established for the classification of a smuggling offence.
Following the intervention, the driver was arrested as the alleged perpetrator of offences against the Smuggling Law and Industrial Property. The detained individual had previous police records for other offences.