150,000 smuggling-cigarettes in a month

Main Customs Office - 150,000 smuggling-cigarettes in a month

The customs office warned tourists to be cautious when buying cigarettes in Poland. "Generally, according to current regulations, up to 800 pieces of cigarettes can be brought tax-free within the European Union, including from Poland, for personal use in Germany," explained Sabine Mattil, press spokesperson of the Hauptzollamt Stralsund.

If tobacco products are brought for friends or family members, there is no personal use allowed and the tobacco tax will be due. Within a month, from mid-June to mid-July, the Stralsund customs secured 150,000 tax-free cigarettes, 21.5 liters of liquids for e-cigarettes, and 3.6 kg of tobacco fine cut.

1,9 Million smuggled cigarettes in 2023

According to Mattil, investigators suspect that in some cases the smuggled cigarettes were intended to be sold commercially - the quantities exceeded personal use. In the entire year 2023, the customs officers of the Hauptzollamt Stralsund discovered 1.9 million euros worth of smuggled cigarettes.

800 cigarettes are allowed

According to the customs office, private individuals are allowed to bring 800 cigarettes, one kilogram of smoking tobacco, and one liter of liquids for e-cigarettes from any EU member state. Using or selling smuggled tobacco products is considered tax evasion, Mattil said. Indications of smuggled goods include missing tax stamps and health warnings on packaging. If the price is significantly lower than in a supermarket, it can also be assumed that something is not on the level. If the customs office discovers smuggled tobacco products, the tobacco tax must be paid. In addition, the cigarettes will be secured.

1. The warning from the Stralsund customs office also extends to the purchase of tobacco wine and e-cigarettes in Poland, as they are subject to the same regulations.
2. The seizure of 150,000 tax-free cigarettes and related products in Stralsund highlights the issue of criminality associated with the smuggling of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
3. The Polish government, in an effort to combat tobacco smuggling, has proposed increasing the tobacco tax, which could potentially reduce the incentive for smuggling and criminal activities.
4. The Main Customs Office in Germany has been working closely with its counterpart in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to tackle the problem of tobacco smuggling, particularly from neighboring Poland.
5. The European Union has expressed concern over the issue of tobacco smuggling and has called on member states to enforce stricter regulations and penalties to curb this criminal activity.
6. The seizure of 1.9 million euros worth of smuggled cigarettes in Stralsund alone underscores the significant financial losses to the European Union and member states due to tobacco smuggling and related criminality.

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