Overview
- Customs investigators searched multiple Hamburg homes and warehouses and confiscated about 150,000 unreported single-use e-cigarettes along with computers, mobile phones, postage material and labeling machines.
- Authorities put the estimated tax loss from the undeclared stock at around €1.2 million and said the products were sold through an online shop to customers across Germany.
- Investigators allege a group of suspects aged 25 to 38 used straw men and shell companies to hide ownership and move e-cigarettes that regulators say were non-compliant with market and health rules.
- The Zollfahndungsamt is handling the probe on behalf of the Staatsanwaltschaft Hamburg and prosecutors are examining seized data carriers and business materials as the criminal investigation develops.
- Suspects could face prison terms of six months to ten years if convicted of commercial tax-related crimes and the case underlines enforcement of e-cigarette taxes and strict labeling and volume limits introduced in 2022.