Smugglers found concealing 15,000 cigarettes on A3 highway by customs agents
In an unexpected discovery this week, customs officers in the Kitzingen district on the A3 highway uncovered a significant cache of untaxed cigarettes during a routine vehicle inspection.
The initial finding consisted of 75 packs of cigarettes, hidden within the van. However, upon conducting a more thorough inspection, customs officers discovered an additional 15,000 untaxed cigarettes concealed in a tabletop attached to the side wall of the vehicle.
The cigarettes, found wrapped in plastic foil during an X-ray machine inspection, were later seized by the customs officers. The total number of cigarettes found in the van is now 15,750, a substantial amount that has raised concerns about the illicit tobacco trade.
The driver of the van, a 47-year-old individual, has been named in the discovery. It was the driver who was attributed to the cigarettes, although no further details about the second vehicle occupant were provided.
The authorities involved in the case are not limited to the German customs but include the US government authorities, including the US Department of Transportation, as indicated by the involvement of the US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The California state government is also cooperating in the case following a fatal accident.
The exact value of the seized cigarettes is not specified, but it includes the newly discovered 15,000 pieces. The estimated tax loss from the smuggled cigarettes is approximately 2,900 euros.
Interestingly, the two vehicle occupants had declared a small amount of tobacco products to the customs. However, the extensive quantity found during the inspection suggests a deliberate attempt to evade taxes.
A criminal proceeding has been initiated against the driver, and the case is currently under investigation. The discovery was made in Schweinfurt, adding another chapter to the ongoing battle against illicit tobacco trade.
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