Customs Foiled Another Attempt at Deceptive Smuggling/ Cigarettes Secretly Given to Travelers
On a routine check on August 14, 2025, a Bulgarian tourist bus was stopped by the Dresden Customs on the A17 motorway. The unexpected stop led to an intriguing discovery, as customs officers found a stash of smuggled cigarettes hidden in the bus's luggage compartment and under an air vent cover above the seats.
In total, 12,500 cigarettes were seized, with each of several passengers possessing identical black plastic bags containing four packs of these illicit items. The cigarettes did not belong to any of the passengers, and none of them could provide information about the cigarettes, including the brand or purchase location.
This was not the first time the bus had been involved in a smuggling incident. In May 2025, the previous driver of the same bus was caught attempting to smuggle over 30,000 cigarettes.
A 49-year-old Bulgarian driver admitted to smuggling the cigarettes, but has not been publicly named. As a result, a tax evasion case was initiated against the driver, and the confiscated cigarettes were worth an estimated tax value of over €2,500.
The Main Customs Office Dresden, located at www.zoll.de, can provide further information on this incident. The Press Spokesperson for the Main Customs Office Dresden is Heike Wilsdorf. Contact information for the Main Customs Office Dresden can be found at [email protected] and 0351-4644-1044.
The bus was diverted to an inspection hall on August 14, 2025, where customs officers used X-ray technology to check the luggage of all passengers on the bus. It was apparent that the cigarettes were being smuggled under the passengers' names. All passengers denied leaving any luggage on the bus.
Customs officers found eight additional black plastic bags containing four packs of cigarettes in the bus's luggage compartment. These extra cigarettes did not belong to any of the passengers. Customs officers seized the outstanding tax on the spot.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by customs authorities to prevent tax evasion and illegal activities, ensuring the safety and integrity of our borders.
