On Sunday evening, the behaviour of two travellers caught the attention of customs, who seized 990 cartons of Marlboro.
The Figaro Nantes
Two Senegalese individuals were arrested Sunday evening at Nantes airport for transporting nine suitcases containing more than 9,000 cigarettes, it has been learned The Figaro from a police source. They had just gotten off a Royal Air Maroc plane from Casablanca. 990 Marlboro cartridges marked “Sale in Senegal” were seized, each cigarette being without a tax stamp.
The scene began around 7 p.m., while the Nantes customs brigade was carrying out checks. “The attention of the customs officers was drawn to the behaviour of the two passengers who appeared to be waiting until all the other passengers had left and collected their luggage.”indicate to the Figaro customs. Trying to hide the fact that they knew each other, the agents quickly realized who they were dealing with.
One tries to change clothes in the toilet
“One of the individuals tried to deceive the customs service by claiming not to have any luggage, but he will be confronted with the evidence when he sees his name written on the tag of his suitcases.”while the second tried to change his clothes in the toilets. On leaving, questioned by customs, he admitted ownership of some suitcases.
One of the two nationals was already known to customs. The other held a diplomatic passport. Placed in customs detention, they were informed that they were in violation of the law for importing manufactured tobacco products without declaration. Then taken into custody at the central police station in Nantes, they stated that they had arrived from Gambia, and that they were taking on the role of «mule».
Eventually, one was released, and the other appeared at a hearing on prior admission of guilt for importing and possessing manufactured tobacco. The latter was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended, and a customs fine of 34,000 euros.
In early August, nearly 14 tonnes of contraband cigarettes were seized in a warehouse in the Nantes region. In Nantes, an anti-trafficking group is helping to combat this phenomenon. In 2023, 2,254 kg of tobacco were seized in the Loire-Atlantique department, compared to 2,302 in 2022 and 1,483 in 2021.
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