Smuggling of luxury watches, perfumes and alcohol surges at the Andorra-Spain border

The value of seizures involving high-end watches, perfumes, alcohol and other goods at the La Farga de Moles customs post has increased almost fivefold since 2021. 

This category has now overtaken tobacco in terms of the value of goods seized, despite tobacco traditionally being one of the main products detected during customs checks at the border between Andorra and Spain.

This is according to data from the Spanish Tax Agency collected by ACN, which show a gradual shift in the type of goods being intercepted at the border in recent years.

Between 2021 and 2025, tobacco generated around one hundred cases each year, ranging from a low of 73 to a high of 117. The highest value of tobacco seized was recorded in 2023, when confiscated products were worth €184,500.

Provisional figures for 2026, however, point to a lower total, with €46,900 worth of tobacco seized during the first half of the year.

Luxury goods gain ground

By contrast, the category classified as “other” in official statistics has recorded strong growth. It includes watches, alcohol, perfumes, mobile phones, cameras, camera lenses and medicines, among other products.

In 2021, the value of goods seized in this category stood at €85,939, rising to €416,192 in 2024. Although the figure fell slightly in 2025, it remained high at around €370,000.

The number of cases involving these products has also risen considerably, from 49 in 2021 to 114 in 2025.

Among the goods becoming increasingly prominent are high-end watches, which are relatively easy to conceal because of their small size and high value.

According to RàdioSeu, Spain’s Guardia Civil says officers have intercepted watches worth between €50,000 and €100,000. In some cases, the potential financial benefit of attempting to bring them into Spain without declaring them can exceed 20%.

Seizures of undeclared cash decline

Alongside the increase in seizures of luxury goods, interceptions of undeclared cash have fallen in recent years.

The peak was recorded in 2022, when more than €1.325 million was seized in 72 cases. Since then, the figures have steadily declined.

There were 38 cases in 2023 and 28 in 2024. In 2025, the latest full year available, the number fell to 22 cases involving a total of €289,000. In 2021, the amount seized had stood at €258,000.

Emilio Bayano, head of the customs passenger service, explained that the increase recorded in 2021 and 2022 coincided with the post-pandemic economic recovery. He believes the subsequent decline is partly related to authorities having access to increasing amounts of information.

Customs officials also point out that anyone entering or leaving Spain with €10,000 or more in cash must file a declaration. Failure to comply can result in the money being temporarily seized and an infringement report being issued. Penalties can reach up to 200% of the amount involved.

A dog trained to detect banknotes

The La Farga de Moles customs post has recently added Amy, a dog specially trained to detect cash, who has been working at the border crossing for the past five months.

Amy was trained by the Guardia Civil’s canine unit to specifically identify the scent of banknotes. Her handler and trainer is Miguel Alaya, acting head of the Guardia Civil company in La Seu d’Urgell.

The dog provides additional support when officers from the Fiscal Service need to carry out further checks on a car, bus or lorry following an initial visual or documentary inspection.