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Customs discovered 520 kg of wedding fireworks – driver without permission!
In the Oder-Spree district, customs discovered 500 kg of illegal pyrotechnics that were intended for a wedding. The driver faces legal consequences.
Customs discovered 520 kg of wedding fireworks – driver without permission!
An exciting incident occurred on Autobahn 10 at the Spreeau triangle, where customs discovered over 500 kilograms of illegal pyrotechnics. These were at least 34 boxes that the driver, a 33-year-old man from France, had allegedly bought for a wedding party. The security forces of the Potsdam Main Customs Office informed that the approximately 520 kg of fireworks belong to category 3 and were purchased in Poland, which is illegal without the necessary permit. Borkener Zeitung reports that the driver had to overcome several stumbling blocks: not only was he not authorized to handle these explosive substances, but he is now also facing criminal tax proceedings and a violation of the Explosives Act. To top things off, he was ordered to pay a security deposit of 500 euros and the fireworks were confiscated.
But this incident is not the only one that alerted the authorities. There are increasing warnings about illegal pyrotechnics, especially around the turn of the year. Austrian customs reports numerous arrests and highlights the dangers associated with purchasing unauthorized fireworks. Last year there were 67 arrests, in which a total of 4,189 pieces of illegal fireworks were confiscated. This year too, up to December 9, 2024, there had already been 33 seizures with 3,662 fireworks seized.
The dangers of illegal pyrotechnics
The risk of injury posed by illegal fireworks should not be underestimated. The main customs office urgently draws attention to the fact that unknown origins and poor processing of products can lead to serious injuries. In addition, according to the Explosives Act, the use of non-conformity-rated fireworks and forging the CE mark are punishable offenses.
Strict regulations apply to different categories of fireworks. For example, category F2 requires a special permit, while fireworks in categories F3 and F4 generally cannot be used without a permit. Violations face not only fines of up to 10,000 euros, but also prison sentences of up to six weeks. The customs officers therefore carry out mobile operations to counteract illegal fireworks.
The recommendations from Stefan Frisch, a spokesman for the Krefeld Main Customs Office, are clear: Anyone looking for fireworks should definitely adhere to the legal regulations. Purchasing illegal fireworks can not only lead to unpleasant legal repercussions, but can also pose extreme risks to your own safety and that of others. Defective products could lead to serious injuries, such as burns or even the loss of limbs.