general-news — Crime-and-justice

Illegally Stowed Goods Discovered in HZA-R Vehicles: Cargo Includes Spare Tires, Engines, and Trunks in Various Locations

Customs officers from the control unit for traffic routes in Furth im Wald, stationed at the main customs office in Regensburg, have initiated checked inspections.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 7:47 AM

1 min read

"Illegal Smuggling Operations Detected in HZA-R: Uncovered Involvement in Vehicular Components Like... — "Illegal Smuggling Operations Detected in HZA-R: Uncovered Involvement in Vehicular Components Like Spare Tires, Engines, and Trunks"

Illegally Stowed Goods Discovered in HZA-R Vehicles: Cargo Includes Spare Tires, Engines, and Trunks in Various Locations

In a recent incident on the A3 near Straubing-Bogen, customs officers from the Regensburg Customs Office successfully intercepted a shipment of smuggled cigarettes.

A 40-year-old Bulgarian driver was stopped, initially claiming to have no illegal goods. However, a thorough inspection of his vehicle revealed otherwise.

The search uncovered a total of 9,000 cigarettes, all bearing Bulgarian tax stamps. The smuggled cigarettes were found in various parts of the vehicle, including bags, the spare wheel, the engine compartment, and even the spare tire.

Intriguingly, 2,000 cigarettes were found inside the spare tire, and another 2,800 were attached to the engine block with duct tape. An additional 2,400 cigarettes were discovered in a sports bag.

Upon being asked to open the spare tire, the driver admitted to having cigarettes inside. This admission led to a criminal investigation against the driver for tax evasion.

René Matschke, head of the Regensburg Customs Office, commended the vigilance and thoroughness of the customs officers. For further questions, contact the Regensburg Customs Office, with Nadine Striegel, the press department contact, reachable by phone at 0941 2086-1503 or by email at [email protected].

It is important to note that in Germany, tax evasion can result in fines or imprisonment of up to five years, and up to ten years in severe cases. The vehicle inspections did not reveal any other issues.

The official website for the Regensburg Customs Office is www.zoll.de. The head of the Regensburg Customs Office is René Matschke.

The Regensburg Customs Office encourages the public to report any suspected cases of smuggling or illegal activities. Together, we can help maintain the integrity of our customs and tax systems.