Mixed Views in Andorra Village on Police Tobacco Smuggling Crackdown

Residents of El Pas de la Casa, the Andorran border village with France, offer mixed views on recent police efforts to curb tobacco smuggling. Over the past months, the government has increased patrols and controls as part of a crackdown plan, sparking debate on daily life, safety perceptions, and community coexistence despite no direct links to serious crime.

One local shopkeeper, who has lived in the village since 2010 on a street leading toward France, reports little change despite more visible police. She describes frequent smuggling activity, especially in certain urban areas, with "days when there's a lot, a lot" of it. People come and go repetitively, she says, and behaviors vary: some rush past without looking, creating tension, while others act more cautiously around families and children to avoid disturbances. Most, she notes, simply buy tobacco and leave. Police presence has grown, but from her vantage point, the overall situation remains much the same.

In contrast, a 20-year resident who works in a supermarket calls the village "always very quiet" with good safety levels that have improved slightly. The extra policing provides better oversight, he says, making people feel more secure. He recalls past unease from unfamiliar, sometimes heavily covered individuals, though no major incidents occurred. As a shopkeeper, he adds that tobacco remains the top-selling product, unaffected by new hourly sales rules—from 7am to 8pm—for his daytime-only store. Smugglers, he observes, target 24-hour outlets at night.

A third resident, employed in local commerce, highlights a graver concern: some smugglers live in the village and work in its shops. While outsiders are involved too, she views locals' participation as the most troubling aspect.

The government's anti-smuggling initiative includes 15 new police positions to boost patrols and surveillance at key spots, alongside staff reorganization for heightened vigilance. Authorities have not detailed further outcomes yet.