An ongoing investigation by the Civil Guard and the Customs Inspection Service led to the seizure of more than 20,231 bottles of spirits stored illegally in a marina warehouse. The case centers on violations of Special Consumption Tax regulations, with the wine and spirits warehouse in Marina Alta estimated to involve around 30,000 euros in potential tax discrepancies. Additional inspections extended through Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón, with a single warehouse located in the Valencian town of Riba-roja identified during the operation. In total, nearly 140,000 euros worth of products were immobilized at retail value as authorities pursued the full scope of irregularities.
The Alicante Command launched the inquiry last September after a tip from the Financial Service of the Barcelona Civil Guard highlighted irregularities uncovered during routine checks of retail outlets selling alcoholic beverages to the public.
distillery
Investigations revealed that the origin of the seized bottles was a distillery located in the Marina Alta region. This discovery prompted notification to the Tax Office, and joint probes were conducted by the Customs Surveillance Service and the Alicante Civil Guards as the case unfolded.
Following the compilation of information on possible Treasury violations, authorities targeted a factory and a warehouse in Marina Alta together with a municipal shop that sold alcoholic beverages to consumers. On September 26, these sites, located in Ondara, were found to belong to the same corporate group, indicating a coordinated effort across the network involved in the case.
Boxes immobilized by Customs and Civil Guards.
The inspection involved the Financial Patrol of the Calp Company, the Customs Surveillance Service in Alicante, and the Judicial Police of the Xàbia Civil Guard. They immobilized more than 20,000 bottles when a series of irregularities came to light, revealing a broader pattern of noncompliance with tax and labeling requirements.
Examinations uncovered alcohol bottles lacking mandatory financial signs, along with drinks bearing fake labels in terms of batch numbers, product ratings, and capacity. A substantial number of empty bottle bodies, still bearing seals, were found in excellent condition, suggesting they were intended for reuse and resale without proper clearance.
Inspectors noted a secret cabin adjacent to a shipment area, and investigators concluded that there was sufficient indication to determine that the business had deliberately sought to defraud the treasury. As a result, the operations expanded to a second phase, with inspections carried out across three provinces within the Community of Valencia.
On November 11, inspectors were assigned to scrutinize 14 establishments across the Community of Valencia. The distribution included Benidorm, Calp, Benissa, Finestrat, Ondara, Navarrés, Riba-roja, Tèns, and Torreblanca, with several locations concentrated in the Alicante region.
Fraudulent use of seals
In almost all the inspections, authorities detected irregularities connected to Special Taxes, mirroring the patterns observed in the initial phase of the operation. The irregularities were closely tied to the fraudulent use of seals intended for alcohol bottles, an evasion tactic aimed at avoiding excise duties or paying less than the due amount based on the alcohol grade of each product.
Boxes immobilized by Customs and Civil Guards. INFORMATION
The Civil Guard stressed the significance of this action in terms of tax evasion and consumer protection within the framework of Special Consumption Tax on alcoholic beverages. The operation also represented a strong stand against fraud and unfair competition that harms commercial law and honest business practices in the sector.
Authorities emphasize that actions of this kind protect consumers and the state alike by ensuring accurate taxation and labeling, guarding against deceptive products, and supporting a fair market for legitimate alcohol producers and retailers. The ongoing investigative work aims to uncover all links in the network and to establish a clear trail of responsibility for breaches of fiscal and regulatory requirements in the alcohol trade.