Customs officials seize contraband electronic cigarettes and tobacco products from a kiosk in Bottrop, according to Customs and Border Protection.
In a joint operation on August 7, authorities in Bottrop, Germany, conducted inspections in various commercial establishments to enforce regulations and combat the sale of illegal vapes and untaxed tobacco products.
The operation, which involved employees from the Municipal Ordinance Office, Customs, the Trade Department, and the Police, aimed to ensure compliance with the Price Indication Ordinance (Preisangabenverordnung, PAngV) and prevent tax evasion.
During the operation, large quantities of untaxed tobacco and vapes were secured by Customs in a kiosk, as well as in a large supermarket where a violation of the PAngV was found. A corresponding tax evasion procedure has been initiated for the kiosk, and an administrative offense procedure has been initiated by the Trade Department for the supermarket.
Illegal vapes from China, not meeting EU safety and health standards, were discovered hidden in adjacent rooms of the kiosk. These vapes, which evade control by Customs, also evade market surveillance and can contain harmful substances. Defective batteries in illegal vapes pose significant health and fire hazards.
The business operator of the kiosk did not cooperate during the search, but no objections were found in most of the inspected locations. The removal of illegal vapes from circulation is necessary for public safety, as these issues can have severe health and safety implications.
Local authorities actively carry out enforcement against violations of the PAngV and tax evasion related to untaxed tobacco products and e-cigarettes in Bottrop. Consumer protection agencies and regulatory bodies routinely conduct inspections to ensure compliance with price display regulations, particularly in retail locations selling tobacco and e-cigarettes.
For the most precise and up-to-date information, contacting Bottrop’s local consumer protection office (Verbraucherschutz) or municipal enforcement offices would provide current details on enforcement actions and priorities in the city. The discovery and removal of illegal vapes from commercial establishments is an ongoing effort at national and regional levels to clamp down on tobacco tax evasion.
The control of illegal vapes is a shared responsibility among Customs, market surveillance, and tax law. Enforcement focuses on preventing the sale of untaxed tobacco products and illicit e-cigarettes, which undermine fiscal regulations and public health policies.
- The local police and regulatory bodies in Bottrop have launched an ongoing effort to control finance-related issues, such as tax evasion on tobacco products and e-cigarettes, by enforcing the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV) in general-news relevant activities.
- The discovery of illegal vapes, not meeting EU safety and health standards, from China in a kiosk was a crime-and-justice matter, as these products can contain harmful substances and pose health and fire hazards, signifying a breach of consumer protection and financial regulations.
