Traditional smuggling (IV)

The merchandise smuggled across the border was diverse and varied: cattle, cereal, weapons, horses, many foodstuffs, salt, tobacco, cloth and muslin, fine lingerie, bedclothes, towels, cutlery, roast coffee, money, people… This changed over time and on different parts of the border depending on demand and the evolving value of the respective currencies: the escudo in Portugal and the peseta in Spain. What is more, we have identified other unusual, smuggled merchandise such as lorries piece by piece, copper plate, wolfram, cigarette lighter flints, cotton reels, scrap metal, diamonds, sewing machines, leather jackets, parrots and tropical snakes, a Fatima virgin (statue) and even an important Portuguese politician, who crossed the border over the river Caia to Portugal on the shoulders of a backpacker from Elvas.

It was usual to smuggle several products at the same time and in both directions. Although some smugglers specialised in specific articles: cattle, tobacco, copper, wolfram, coffee… There were several gangs of smugglers who for many years worked exclusively for roast coffee companies located on the border, especially around the axis formed by the cities of Elvas, Campomaior and Portalegre, all in Portugal.