Hidden Smuggling Site Exposed by Customs: 15,000 Untaxed Cigarettes Found During Car Inspection
In an incident that took place on the A3 motorway in the district of Kitzingen, Germany, on September 3, 2025, customs officers made a significant discovery. During a stop of an eastbound truck, they uncovered 75 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.
The cigarettes were found hidden in a tabletop wrapped in plastic foil and a wooden structure on the side wall of the truck. The driver of the truck was held responsible for the cigarettes and they were seized by the enforcement officers.
After posting a security bond, the driver was allowed to continue his journey. The customs unit, responsible for the incident, is the Customs Unit for Transport Routes at the Main Customs Office Schweinfurt. This unit is tasked with the customs surveillance of transport routes throughout Lower Franconia and large parts of Upper Franconia.
The tax loss from this seizure is approximately 2,900 euros. The customs unit is also responsible for determining this tax loss and for any further actions related to the seized cigarettes and the east European driver of the truck.
It's important to note that the customs unit prevents the entry of prohibited goods, ranging from large shipments to small consignments. They also regularly detect violations involving pharmaceuticals, narcotics and doping substances, as well as tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
A criminal investigation was initiated against the east European driver of the truck. The Main Customs Office Schweinfurt Press Office, located at www.zoll.de, can provide more information about the work of the customs and details on duty-free allowances. For those seeking updates on this incident, a document titled "20250903_pm_kev_cigarette_seizure.pdf" was published.
The Eastern European against whom criminal proceedings were initiated in connection with the discovery of 75 cartons of untaxed cigarettes on the A3 motorway near Kitzingen is a 47-year-old man. The Customs Office Schweinfurt Press Office can be contacted at Anna-Lena Gernert (Telephone: 09721/ 6464-1030, Email: [email protected]).
Initially, the two occupants of the truck declared a small amount of tobacco products. However, a more thorough check revealed 15,000 pieces of untaxed cigarettes. The customs unit is the authority responsible for this case, with the document weighing approximately 170 kB.
For more information on customs regulations and duty-free allowances, please visit www.zoll.de.
