The Customs Police working with the Policía Nacional uncovered an international gang with its own illegal tobacco factory in Andalucia.

The Vigilancia Aduanera de la Agencia Tributaria located a cigarette-confection set up in Marchena, Écija and Bormujos (Sevilla) as well as Lucena (Córdoba), which between them could churn out one million cigarettes a day.

Whilst the police were carrying out the raids, one of the storage units was deliberately set on fire by one of the gang to destroy the evidence.

Twelve individuals were arrested of several nationalities; Spanish, Ukrainian and Belarusian. Furthermore 45,500 packets of cigarettes, 4,200 kilos of pipe tobacco and 10,320 kilos of dried leaves were confiscated, together with several vehicles, mobile phones and computer equipment.

The organisation was run from a luxury chalet in Bormujos whereas the main production centres was based in Marchena. The workers lived in the factory without being able to go out themselves – food & drink, as well as production material was brought to the warehouse.

(News: Écija, Bormujos, Lucena, Sevilla, Cordoba, Andalucia)