German customs seized 400,000 illegal e-cigarettes worth 500,000 euros

German customs seized 400,000 illegal e-cigarettes worth 500,000 euros

The Berlin Customs in Germany cracked down on the smuggling of e-cigarettes, detained eight suspects, seized 400,000 illegal e-cigarettes, and lost 500,000 euros in tax revenue.

On November 26, the Berlin-Brandenburg Customs Investigation Office announced that the agency, together with about 500 law enforcement officers from the Berlin Police Department, searched 35 addresses and multiple cars in the city to crack down on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes to teenagers.

The police seized 400,000 untaxed e-cigarettes, 600 kilograms of hookah tobacco, and more than 200,000 euros in cash. It is reported that the tax loss reached at least 500,000 euros.

The investigation points to a group of eight suspects aged between 24 and 41. Since January 2024, this group has been selling smuggled e-cigarettes mainly to teenagers through Internet advertisements.

It is reported that these disposable e-cigarettes were brought into Germany by unknown third parties without customs declaration and tax payment. The suspects knew this, but they still sold these untaxed goods.

The investigation and evaluation of the seized evidence is ongoing.

From July 1, 2022, disposable e-cigarettes are included in the scope of tobacco taxation as a tobacco substitute. In the tax regulations, the content of tobacco oil in disposable e-cigarettes is important. From January 1, 2024, the tobacco tax rate is 0.20 euros per milliliter. According to the Youth Protection Act, disposable e-cigarettes with and without nicotine must not be provided to children and young people. Violators may be fined up to 50,000 euros.