The German customs in Cologne recently announced that they successfully intercepted a Romanian truck driving from Paris to Germany on the A4 highway in Kerpen, uncovering 45,000 illegal disposable e-cigarettes and over 1100 liters of untaxed e-liquid hidden inside the vehicle. The estimated market value of the seized products exceeds 1 million euros, making it the largest scale of e-cigarette-related case in Cologne in recent years.
According to the photos released by customs, the products involved in the case are labeled with the brand "Fumot" and closely resemble their RAndM Digital Box 12000 model.
According to reports, this batch of products lacks legal tax markings and also violates Germany's new regulations on imposing tobacco tax on e-liquids containing nicotine since July 2022. It is estimated that this will result in a tax revenue loss of nearly 300,000 euros.
Jens Ahland, spokesperson for the Cologne main customs office, expressed concern that these types of products are heavily entering everyday retail outlets and being sold frequently to minors. Recently, similar illegal goods were discovered in a tanning salon in Cologne, even accompanied by knives and imitation firearms.
The case has been transferred to the Essen Customs Investigation Bureau for further handling.
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