Seizure of 3447 Untaxed Disposable E-cigarettes by German Customs

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Jan.17.2024
Seizure of 3447 Untaxed Disposable E-cigarettes by German Customs
German customs seized 3447 untaxed disposable e-cigarettes from a tobacco merchant suspected of tax evasion.

According to reports from German media, the Göettingen Customs in Germany discovered and seized 3447 untaxed disposable e-cigarettes during an inspection.

 

According to the customs in Göttingen, this batch of e-cigarettes was discovered at a tobacco and tobacco substitute merchant on January 9th of this year. The merchant primarily supplies tobacco products and tobacco kiosks.

 

As an importer of tobacco products and their substitutes, including e-liquids contained in e-cigarettes, this merchant was requested by the Goettingen Customs to conduct annual inventory checks, which he failed to carry out. As a result, the customs authorities decided to perform an inspection.

 

During the inspection, customs officials discovered 3,447 e-cigarettes, each containing 2 milliliters of e-liquid. It was revealed that the packaging of these disposable e-cigarettes lacked the necessary tax markings. The e-liquids in these e-cigarettes are subject to a total tobacco tax of €1,103.04. Consequently, the customs officials seized the goods and issued a tax notice, while also initiating a lawsuit against the merchant for suspected tax evasion.

 

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

NATO Executive Director David Spross Sees U.S. Vape Regulation Improving, Calls for More PMTA Authorizations and Warns of 2027 State Tax Pressure
NATO Executive Director David Spross Sees U.S. Vape Regulation Improving, Calls for More PMTA Authorizations and Warns of 2027 State Tax Pressure
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets is calling for more FDA marketing authorizations, greater transparency in the PMTA process and continued enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes, even as its executive director, David Spross, points to recent regulatory developments as signs of progress. At the state level, excise taxes, flavor restrictions and vapor product directories remain major issues for tobacco retailers. By August 2026, 17 states had enacted laws establishing state-managed e-cigarette directories or similar systems.
Innovation
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected
AIR Global Starts Debt Refinancing Four Months After Nasdaq Listing With About $400 Million Notes Expected
AIR Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIR Global, has launched an offering of U.S. dollar-denominated senior unsecured notes, with proceeds primarily intended to repay its existing term loan and revolving credit facility. AIR has not disclosed the final size, maturity or coupon; Refinitiv, citing Moody's, reported an expected issuance of approximately $400 million and a Ba3 rating. AIR had about $412.4 million outstanding under the two bank facilities at June 30 and net debt of $344.8 million. In the first half of 2026, AIR's Al Fakher-led flavored shisha molasses business generated about 99% of company revenue, while New Growth Categories including Crown Switch produced $2.2 million in revenue and remained loss-making on an adjusted EBITDA basis.
Sep.23
Special Report|Japan Tobacco Buys CLEW: Can Its 160,000-Store Cigarette Network Help It Vie for U.S. Nicotine Pouch Share Against PMI and BAT?
Special Report|Japan Tobacco Buys CLEW: Can Its 160,000-Store Cigarette Network Help It Vie for U.S. Nicotine Pouch Share Against PMI and BAT?
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) announced on November 12, 2026, that it had acquired the U.S. assets of nicotine pouch brand CLEW from Nevcore Innovations Inc., including trademarks, intellectual property, product formulations and a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA). CLEW, currently distributed through selected outlets in 13 U.S. states, will immediately join the JTI LIGGETT portfolio. The transaction follows JT's approximately $2.4 billion acquisition of U.S. cigarette maker Vector Group in 2024. JTI LIGGETT says its existing cigarette brands reach more than 160,000 U.S. retail stores. During the 2026 NACS Show in October, JTI LIGGETT booth staff told 2Firsts that the company had not yet launched nicotine pouches in the United States. Although Nevcore previously announced FDA acceptance of CLEW's PMTA, the brand is absent from the agency's current list of authorized nicotine pouch products. JT has not disclosed a retail expansion plan for CLEW.
Business
Nov.12
STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruled that STIIIZY had not shown that the redesigned cannabis-vape products covered by its latest request fall outside an ITC limited exclusion order tied to PAX Labs patents. CBP accepted some of STIIIZY’s claim-construction and non-infringement arguments, but the company did not address two additional claims in the same patent. Earlier STIIIZY redesigned cartridges and certain associated components imported with them had received separate CBP clearance.
Sep.16
Product | PMJ Adds Bold Ruby to IQOS ILUMA i Lineup in Japan, Convenience-Store Rollout Starts Sept. 29
Product | PMJ Adds Bold Ruby to IQOS ILUMA i Lineup in Japan, Convenience-Store Rollout Starts Sept. 29
Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) launched Bold Ruby as a new regular color for the IQOS ILUMA i and IQOS ILUMA i ONE in Japan on September 16, 2026, priced at JPY 6,980 and JPY 3,980, respectively. Initial sales began through IQOS online and physical channels, with convenience stores and selected tobacco retailers set to follow from September 29. Bold Ruby is a regular rather than limited-edition colorway and is available for the ILUMA i and ILUMA i ONE, but not the ILUMA i PRIME. The release does not involve changes to the devices' core hardware or functions.
Sep.22
Turning Point Brands Q3 Modern Oral Net Sales Rise 103% to $74.4 Million as Attributable Profit Falls 81%
Turning Point Brands Q3 Modern Oral Net Sales Rise 103% to $74.4 Million as Attributable Profit Falls 81%
Turning Point Brands (TPB) reported third-quarter 2026 Modern Oral net sales of $74.4 million on November 9, up 102.9% year over year and representing 49.2% of consolidated net sales. Total company net sales rose 27.0% to $151.1 million, while net income attributable to TPB declined 81.4% to $3.93 million. The company is expanding the US retail presence of its FRE and ALP nicotine pouch brands and expects its Modern Oral chain-store footprint to grow by more than 70% during 2026. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 69.1% to $75.3 million, while PMTA-related expenses reached approximately $3.15 million and manufacturing start-up costs totaled about $593,000. ALP plans to open a branded pop-up in New York City's SoHo neighborhood on November 13, alongside a marketing campaign extending into January 2027. TPB owns 50% of ALP but consolidates the venture in its financial statements.
company
Nov.11