Would anybody like a free bike? :)

[onlineamiga]

This is a pretty awesome picture of the bicycle graveyard of confiscated bikes by the Spanish customs, as they have been used for smuggling tobacco from Gibraltar over to Spain. A lot of these bikes sadly would have been previously stolen. Its quite amusing seeing old Spanish men cycling along on little girls pink BMXs with a carton off fags shoved up their shirt! Sad really!

In light of EU Inspectors coming to this border tomorrow. This graveyard has since been cleaned up. No doubt all the bikes have just gone for scrap metal. Shame really they could have gone to good causes!

 

[Archie_tect]

My daughter was telling just the other day that she can't find a decent second hand bike for sale in Spain where she is... now we know why!

 

[Puddles]

Poor sad bicycles

 

[swee'pea99]

How the hell do you smuggle cigs on a bicycle? And why would you want to smuggle them into Spain? From what I remember (albeit this is from many moons ago) cigs were dirt cheap in Spain.

 

[Acyclo]

Here's someone who already has a free bike or two:

 

[broadway]

How the hell do you smuggle cigs on a bicycle? And why would you want to smuggle them into Spain? From what I remember (albeit this is from many moons ago) cigs were dirt cheap in Spain.

"Cigarettes are around 40% cheaper in Gibraltar than they are in Spain, and a third of the price you would pay in the UK"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23784627

 

[swee'pea99]

"Cigarettes are around 40% cheaper in Gibraltar than they are in Spain, and a third of the price you would pay in the UK"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23784627

Ok, so that's one question answered. Now, how would you go about smuggling cigs on a bike?

 

[classic33]

How the hell do you smuggle cigs on a bicycle? And why would you want to smuggle them into Spain? From what I remember (albeit this is from many moons ago) cigs were dirt cheap in Spain.

In the frame, hanldlebars. Both will hold around 200 in total. Go for tobbacco & you can place it in the tires.

 

[onlineamiga]

What they do, is clearly show that they only have 2 packets of cigarettes. (like 40) by strapping them to the frame, or the seat post. Then they literally go round and round in circles all day long being sure to ensure the guards have changed at the border. They may also stuff a load more under their jackets, or even in the frames themselves. By doing this, one person may get 200 - 400 cigarettes out per day. But multiply that by hundreds of people who are part of the cartel, and suddenly thats 40,000 cigarettes a day. Equivalent of 2000 packets. The cartels probably have about a 2 euro per packet profit after paying the smugglers, and making about €4,000 a day. There are no shortage of volunteers, with a 50% unemployment rate on the Spanish side of the border. Most of the smugglers use any old bike they can get hold of, even kids bikes, probably stolen. They just spend all day every day going round and round and round.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I used to smuggle bicycles across that border.

I was searched loads of times, but always allowed to continue on my way.

 

[swee'pea99]

I used to smuggle bicycles across that border.

I was searched loads of times, but always allowed to continue on my way.

You had them hidden in stacks of cigs, right?

 

[Egon Belmontie]

How the hell do you smuggle cigs on a bicycle? And why would you want to smuggle them into Spain? From what I remember (albeit this is from many moons ago) cigs were dirt cheap in Spain.

The Spanish use bikes as there not checked as much as the cars and mopeds are. They smuggle packets of cigarettes by taping them to there chest and legs. to make it worse they do it openly about 200 yards away from the boarder.

 

[asterix]

I used to smuggle bicycles across that border.

I was searched loads of times, but always allowed to continue on my way.

That's because you weren't carrying fags and they failed to spot the bicycle. It's a dead give away is carrying fags.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

So smoking harms bicycles too

 

[Smurfy]

Here's someone who already has a free bike or two: View attachment 29807

That oversized paddling pool thing is a waste of valuable bike storage space!