Andorra-France border sees surge in organized tobacco smuggling networks

French customs at the high‑altitude Pas de la Casa crossing report that tobacco smuggling has evolved from occasional trips to a structured operation run by four identified networks originating in Algeria, Albania, Sri Lanka and Armenia. Carriers without papers transport bundles of 10‑25 kg down the mountain, where vehicles collect the loads. In 2023 customs seized 7.2 tonnes of tobacco, up from 4.2 tonnes the previous year, driven by the price gap between a pack in Andorra (34‑48 €, up to four‑five times cheaper than in France).

The phenomenon mirrors a broader European trend. France now records the highest share of illicit cigarettes in the EU—41.4% of its consumption—generating an estimated €4‑5 billion in lost tax revenue. A KPMG study projects that the EU consumed over 41.8 billion illegal cigarettes in 2025, costing public finances between €16.7 billion and €22.4 billion. European authorities, including OLAF, Europol and national customs services, are intensifying coordination to combat the increasingly industrialised black‑market tobacco trade.