Customs stops luxury sports car smugglers on A8 near Traunstein!

Customs stops luxury sports car smugglers on A8 near Traunstein!

On May 28, 2025, a Romanian was checked in the height of the A 8 in the height of the A 8 in the height of transporting an unadlting sports car illegally from Switzerland to Romania. The driver had invited the luxury sedan on a trailer and was on his way to his homeland. The customs officials of the Traunstein control unit discovered during the control that import levies of 10,815 euros would have been incurred for importing the vehicle from Switzerland, which the driver could not legitimize by a customs registration. This led to the immediate due date of these taxes and the luxury sedan was secured.

against the driver, criminal proceedings for tax evasion were then initiated. This control shows how important customs is in the context of compliance with import regulations and in combating the smuggling.

tasks and powers of customs

The customs authorities in Germany, which employ more than 30,000 people, have the task of controlling goods imports, combating illegal employment and collecting motor vehicle tax. Usually, citizens come into contact with customs when traveling, often at airports or when returning from abroad. Customs officials are authorized to control passengers, especially if they enter Switzerland. These controls can be uncomfortable: Luggage is searched, personal details are checked and questions about goods carried must be answered truthfully.

In the border area near the border, which is defined by land 30 kilometers behind the German customs border and 50 kilometers behind sea limits, customs officials can carry out controls without suspected initial suspicion. If you are suspected of carrying out illegal goods, you are entitled to carry out more intensive searches that have to take place in a suitable place. [lawyer funding.de reports that ...]

Compliance with import regulations is increasingly emphasized by the customs authorities. These include not only fiscal aspects, but also security measures against smuggling, drugs and weapons as well as compliance with health and environmental regulations. Customs controls must be carried out efficiently and quickly to avoid unnecessary delays and costs for companies. Another focus is on the support of law enforcement authorities in combating criminal activities. [taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu shows that ...]