Overview

• Customs officials discovered 225 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, equating to 45,000 individual cigarettes, hidden in a car's trunk.
• The smuggled goods were concealed in the spare-wheel well, behind interior trim, in bags, and under clothing.
• The seizure, conducted near Heidesee in Brandenburg at the end of April, resulted in an estimated €8,900 tax loss.
• The driver, a 28-year-old man, is now under investigation for suspected tax evasion.
• This incident is part of broader EU-wide efforts to combat tobacco smuggling, which impacts public finances and health policies.