The sale of contraband tobacco is no longer the preserve of large cities. This is evidenced by the seizure of a large quantity of merchandise from a grocer in the city center of Sarlat (Dordogne), Thursday, November 28 in the morning.
According to our information, the man offered his cartridges of tobacco imported from Spain on social networks. Located near a school, the accused also sold part of it to young people in Sarlad by selling them single cigarettes, which is strictly prohibited by law.
Summoned to appear in court on May 6
Soldiers from the research brigade (BR) of the Sarlat gendarmerie company discreetly conducted the investigation on the Internet for several months before placing the suspect in police custody.
Prosecuted for possession and fraudulent sale of tobacco imported from abroad, he will be summoned on May 6, 2025 before the Bergerac criminal court. He is liable to a prison sentence and a fine of up to 500,000 euros.
Contacted by “Sud Ouest”, the president of the Federation of tobacconists of the Dordogne, Stéphan Picaglia, wanted to “salute the work of the gendarmes” at a time when contraband trafficking (product imported from a foreign country) and that of counterfeiting (tobacco is manufactured in clandestine factories installed on French territory).
A trial for example?
No later than this Monday, December 2 in the morning, Me Myriam Vincens-Hourez, lawyer at the Bordeaux bar, represented the Federation of Périgord tobacconists in the civil aspect of the trial of two men found guilty in October of illegal possession and sale contraband tobacco. The two individuals were arrested on the night of May 25 to 26 in Allée du Port, in Périgueux, by a crew from the Périgueux anti-crime brigade. They were then in possession of 30 cartridges of Winston at 120 euros per unit and 220 cartridges of Malboro at 125 euros per unit.
