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

Alberta Seeks to Add New Vape Restrictions on Top of Existing Tobacco Framework
Alberta Seeks to Add New Vape Restrictions on Top of Existing Tobacco Framework
A new Alberta bill aimed at reducing vaping rates, especially among young people, is moving into the legislative process. Bill 208, the Vaping Reduction Act, was introduced by United Conservative Party MLA Chelsae Petrovic and appears to build on the province’s existing Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act. Early reporting suggests the bill could focus on disposable vapes and impose further limits on youth access to vaping products.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court Rejects Challenge, New Vape Rules to Take Effect on August 6
Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court Rejects Challenge, New Vape Rules to Take Effect on August 6
Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has rejected an injunction seeking to stop a new vape regulation from taking effect, ruling that there was no specific harm to constitutional rights. As a result, Technical Regulation RTCR 519-2025, promoted by the Health Ministry, will enter into force on August 6 as originally planned.
Mar.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
E-cigarette brand GEEKBAR has recently launched its new product, the GEEKBAR MATE 60K, on its official website. The product adopts a pod-based system, consisting of a reusable 900mAh device and a pod prefilled with 15ml of e-liquid and equipped with a built-in 200mAh battery, bringing the total battery capacity to 1100mAh. It supports both Regular and Pulse modes.
Mar.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
ITC Keeps Exclusion and Cease-and-Desist Orders in Place Against Stiiizy
ITC Keeps Exclusion and Cease-and-Desist Orders in Place Against Stiiizy
U.S. International Trade Commission has refused to pause the import and sales bans imposed on cannabis vape company Stiiizy while it appeals the agency’s patent infringement ruling in its dispute with Pax Labs.
Apr.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill
South Africa health department agrees to exempt smokeless and non-combustible products from tobacco control bill
At a parliamentary committee meeting in South Africa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the health department has agreed to exempt non-combustible and smokeless products — including chewing tobacco, snus, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes — from the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. The department is prepared, at this stage, to exempt them from packaging and labelling requirements except for misleading or false claims.
Mar.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
West Virginia Bill Would Direct USD 2.9 Million of Juul Settlement to Youth Tobacco and Vaping Prevention
West Virginia Bill Would Direct USD 2.9 Million of Juul Settlement to Youth Tobacco and Vaping Prevention
A bill completed during West Virginia’s 2026 regular legislative session would make a one-time allocation of USD 2.9 million from the state’s USD 7.9 million settlement with Juul to youth tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
Mar.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai