Customs Seize 9,000 Smuggled Cigarettes from Bulgarian Driver
Customs officers in Regensburg have seized 9,000 smuggled cigarettes from a Bulgarian driver. The 40-year-old man was stopped on the A3 near Straubing-Bogen. He initially denied having any illegal goods but was found to be carrying cigarettes hidden in various parts of his vehicle.
The driver concealed the cigarettes in unusual places to avoid detection. He had 2,000 in the spare wheel, 2,400 in a sports bag, 2,800 attached to the engine block, and 1,800 in the original spare tire. All the seized cigarettes bore Bulgarian tax stamps, indicating they were intended for smuggling into Germany.
The driver is now under investigation for tax evasion. This offence can result in fines or imprisonment of up to five years, and up to ten years in particularly serious cases.
The Bulgarian driver's attempt to intuitively smuggle 9,000 cigarettes into Germany has been thwarted by customs authorities. The investigation into tax evasion is ongoing. The seized cigarettes will not be entering the German market, preventing potential tax revenue loss.
