Customs stop for 50,000 untaxed cigarettes on the A24!

Customs stop for 50,000 untaxed cigarettes on the A24!

An unexpected find alarmed the customs officials in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district on the A24 near Suckow. On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, inspection officers discovered an impressive 50,000 untaxed cigarettes in a Polish truck. This discovery occurred during a large-scale inspection operation in which X-ray technology was used to identify suspicious abnormalities. The driver, a 30-year-old, had previously provided false information and claimed that he was not carrying any goods. Now he has to deal with the investigation into tax evasion, where the alleged tax loss is around 10,000 euros. The NDR reports that the customs investigation office in Stralsund has taken over the further investigation.

The uncovered cigarettes were hidden both in the driver's cab and in the truck's storage compartment. Such findings are not the first time that customs in this region have been confronted with the dirty business of cigarette smuggling. The revelations were similarly dramatic in April 2024, when 15,000 cigarettes were discovered in a van with Ukrainian registration in Giessen. These cigarettes were marked with Ukrainian tax stamps and criminal tax proceedings were initiated against the 41-year-old Ukrainian driver, who also had not paid all outstanding tobacco taxes. According to [ Zoll.de ](https://www.zoll.de/SharedDocs/Press Releases/DE/Kabel/2024/z68_zigarettenschmuggler_gi.html), the cigarettes were confiscated, as were building materials, for which no import duties were paid.

Smuggling networks in the sights of the authorities

The current cases are part of a larger problem that is keeping German customs and the public prosecutor's office on their toes. A strike against a Europe-wide smuggling ring recently caused a stir. Customs managed to identify around 150 containers containing around 1.5 billion untaxed cigarettes that were brought illegally into Europe. This criminal network is estimated to have lost taxpayers €550 million. The cigarettes probably come from Turkey and Iran and were brought to Europe under false product names. They first landed in overseas ports and were then smuggled into Europe under difficult conditions. As reported by [WDR]. Eighteen suspects are the focus of investigators, while several arrest warrants have already been issued in various federal states as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The use of customs against cigarette smuggling shows how stubbornly the authorities are cracking down on this illegal activity. From illegal employment to massive tax evasion, the work of customs officials is essential to maintain fiscal integrity and protect society from the financial harm of such illegal transactions. It remains to be seen how the new cases will develop and what further revelations will come to light in the near future.