Spanish authorities have seized more than 500 kilograms of shisha tobacco from a vehicle bearing diplomatic license plates linked to the South African Embassy in Morocco after stopping it at the Tarajal border crossing in Ceuta, according to a Hespress AR source familiar with the investigation.
The vehicle, a Mercedes traveling from Ceuta toward Morocco, was stopped Thursday by officers from the Spanish Civil Guard’s unit responsible for customs and border offenses, working in coordination with customs officials, the source said.
Authorities searched the vehicle after it raised suspicions and discovered more than 850 packages of water-pipe tobacco, commonly known as shisha tobacco, weighing more than 512 kilograms in total. Officers also seized other goods, including perfume.
The driver, a Guinean national, was arrested on suspicion of cross-border smuggling and is scheduled to appear before a Spanish court on Saturday, according to the source.
The vehicle carried diplomatic license plates assigned to the South African Embassy in Morocco and is used by embassy personnel, the source said. Authorities have not publicly alleged any involvement by the embassy itself.
Spanish officials confiscated the tobacco and other merchandise and prepared a formal report under Spain’s anti-smuggling legislation pending judicial proceedings.
Spain regulates cross-border smuggling under Organic Law 12/1995 on the Suppression of Smuggling, which classifies offenses according to the value and nature of the goods involved. Enforcement is carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard in coordination with the Customs Surveillance Service, part of Spain’s Tax Agency, at border crossings, ports and other entry points.
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