German Customs Seize 210,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes, Suffering €1.4 Million in Tax Losses

Feb.04.2025
German Customs Seize 210,000 Illegal E-Cigarettes, Suffering €1.4 Million in Tax Losses
German customs seized large quantities of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Hesse and Saarland, causing an estimated €1.4 million tax loss.

According to a report by Zeit on February 3, German customs in Hesse and Saarland seized a large quantity of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Customs officials stated that in a warehouse in Saarbrücken alone, 47 Euro standard pallets filled with unauthorized e-cigarettes were confiscated.


The shipment included 210,000 e-cigarette products intended for consumers in Germany and other EU member states. It is estimated that this case resulted in tax revenue losses of around 1.4 million euros.


Furthermore, investigators seized over 1.6 million illegal cigarettes, water pipes, and cash in Hesse in early January. It is believed that the cigarettes were untaxed and likely counterfeit, and the individuals involved have been arrested.


German law stipulates that the pod capacity of each e-cigarette cannot exceed 2 milliliters. Customs officials have stated, "The seized e-cigarette liquids have a much higher content than the permitted filling amount, and were not properly taxed according to the law.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Turkey Plans to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising Under Revised Commercial Advertising Rules
Turkey Plans to Ban E-Cigarette Advertising Under Revised Commercial Advertising Rules
Turkey is advancing amendments to its Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices, proposing stricter controls on e-cigarette and gambling advertising.
Dec.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Charlie’s Holdings Signs Licensing Agreement with IKE Tech to Commercialize Age-Gated Vape Technology in the U.S.
Charlie’s Holdings Signs Licensing Agreement with IKE Tech to Commercialize Age-Gated Vape Technology in the U.S.
Charlie’s Holdings has signed a licensing agreement with IKE Tech to commercialize an age-gated vape activation system in the U.S. The technology combines biometric authentication, BLE hardware, and a mobile app for continuous device-level age verification. The company plans to test-market the system with SBX nicotine analogue products this spring and may later apply it to PACHA-branded ENDS.
News
Jan.06
Japan Tobacco International Malaysia Appoints Didier Ellena as Managing Director; Predecessor Reassigned to North Asia Role
Japan Tobacco International Malaysia Appoints Didier Ellena as Managing Director; Predecessor Reassigned to North Asia Role
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Malaysia has appointed Didier Ellena as managing director, effective Jan 5. Ellena has spent more than 30 years with JTI and has held leadership roles across multiple countries and regions. His predecessor, Juliana Mohd Yahaya, will become vice president of sales and marketing for JTI North Asia.
Jan.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
The Spark of Reason| 2Firsts 2026 New Year Message
The Spark of Reason| 2Firsts 2026 New Year Message
Looking ahead to 2026, we do so with genuine anticipation. This will be a milestone year—the dawn of a new era.
Jan.01
Vietnam’s Health Ministry consults on tobacco-control law amendments, proposing an e-cigarette ban
Vietnam’s Health Ministry consults on tobacco-control law amendments, proposing an e-cigarette ban
VTV.vn reports that Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is collecting feedback on a draft amendment to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, proposing an e-cigarette ban and broader public health protections.
Jan.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Observation | Element Vape Launches “Made in USA” Section as Product Pages Show “Assembled in USA” and “Made in USA” Labels
2Firsts Observation | Element Vape Launches “Made in USA” Section as Product Pages Show “Assembled in USA” and “Made in USA” Labels
Element Vape, a U.S. online vaping retailer, uses origin labels such as “Made in USA” and “Assembled in USA” across disposable vape product pages and a dedicated collection page, grouping items under “Made in USA Disposable Vapes,” but the platform does not disclose on its public pages the applicable standards or evidentiary basis for these different claims.
Jan.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai