Two men, aged 31 and 25, were arrested on Wednesday morning in the French town of Crouy, near Soissons, after a routine traffic stop uncovered a significant quantity of tobacco products.
During the stop, police officers discovered approximately 150 tubs of tobacco and several cartons of cigarettes in the vehicle’s boot. The haul is estimated to be worth around €4,000.
According to initial findings, the goods originated in Luxembourg, where tobacco prices are considerably lower than in France. Authorities suspect the two individuals intended to resell the products illegally – an act classified as smuggling.
The pair were taken into police custody following their arrest. An investigation is now underway to determine the full scale of their operation and to establish whether they had made any previous trips for the same purpose.
The police service has issued a reminder that tobacco importation is strictly regulated and that exceeding authorised limits can lead to criminal prosecution.
