Unexpected item discovered in the mailbox - Authorities issue alert concerning delivery package

In recent times, authorities in Germany have been dealing with an unusual issue: unsolicited seed shipments from China. Over 126,000 such shipments were discovered throughout 2020, and the number has risen in the first half of 2021, with over 65,000 shipments found at Frankfurt Airport alone up to early June.

The Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), a federal research institute for crop plants, has expressed concern over these unordered seeds. Bernhard Schäfer from the JKI states that unordered seed poses a threat to the environment, as they could be invasive species that spread uncontrollably and displace native plants.

The phenomenon has not yet been clearly clarified, but authorities advise against planting unordered seeds and recommend disposing of them in household waste, not in compost or the green bin. The seed could also be infected with diseases or pests, which could harm local ecosystems.

Some of the packages were falsely labeled as "earrings" or "greeting cards" to avoid detection, but the majority of these shipments contained unordered seed. Tens of thousands of seed shipments have been removed from circulation due to the risk of introducing invasive species.

The exact parties behind these unsolicited seed shipments remain unclear, but authorities warn that these seeds pose ecological risks as they may contain invasive species, diseases, or pests. The motive behind the unordered seed shipments is suspected to be a "brushing scam," a fraudulent method aimed at inflating sales figures or generating user reviews.

The frequent occurrence of these shipments in Frankfurt can be attributed to the location of the DHL post center, from which packages from China are distributed throughout Germany. Unidentified seed packages have been found in mailboxes without a corresponding order, adding to the mystery.

Authorities urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious seed packages. They also advise against purchasing seed from non-EU countries via the internet. Other federal states are minimally affected by this issue, according to authorities.

While the source and motivation behind these unsolicited seed shipments remain a mystery, one thing is clear: they pose a significant risk to Germany's environment and agriculture. As such, it is crucial for the public to be informed and take the necessary precautions to protect their gardens, parks, and the wider ecosystem.

Unexpected item discovered in the mailbox - Authorities issue alert concerning delivery package