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

Feb.04

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.

References:

[1] Tabakwaren: Zoll beschlagnahmt palettenweise illegale E-Zigaretten

Also Read:

[1] German Customs Authorities Bust Illegal E-cigarette Smuggling Ring in Essen

[2] German Customs Seizes 400,000 Illegal Vapes Worth €500,000

[3] German environment ministry urges EU-wide ban on disposable e-cigarettes

#Europe #Open system e-cigarettes #Customs #Germany

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

2Firsts Observation | U.S. E-cigarette Regulation Enters Normalized Phase as Federal and State Authorities Tighten Compliance Frameworks

In just two months, U.S. authorities seized over 7 million illegal e-cigarettes. 2Firsts’ analysis reveals a shift toward institutionalized regulation, with federal and state agencies intensifying enforcement — signaling a major reset in the world’s largest and most influential vaping market.

Oct.28

WHO Chief Warns of E-Cigarette Threat to Youth as COP11 Opens in Geneva

More than 1,400 delegates from 162 Parties convened in Geneva on November 17 for the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the session with a stark warning: tobacco and nicotine companies are targeting schools as the “new front line” to recruit a generation of addicts through e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

Nov.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Virginia Seeks to Dismiss E-Cigarette Ban Challenge, Citing Lack of Legal Standing

The Virginia Attorney General and tax commissioner have urged a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on unapproved e-cigarettes, arguing that the companies behind the suit lack legal standing since their products are federally illegal. The state contends the plaintiffs, Novo Distro Inc. and Tobacco Hut and Vape Fairfax Inc., have no lawful right to sell unapproved vapes and cannot show irreparable harm.

Dec.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Irish Vape Group Urges Full Scrutiny of Single-Use Vape Bill

Responsible Vaping Ireland (RVI) has urged TDs to fully scrutinise the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 as it comes before the Dáil for debate. Representing more than 3,300 independent vape retailers, RVI stressed that meaningful consultation with retailers and enforcement authorities is essential to ensure the ban meets its public health and environmental goals without unintended consequences.