Austrian Customs Seizes Over 100,000 Smuggled Cigarettes at Nickelsdorf Border

At the Nickelsdorf crossing on the Austrian‑Hungarian border, police stopped a 35‑year‑old driver of a French‑registered Mercedes Sprinter in late May. A hidden freezer in the cargo area contained 100,960 cigarettes from Moldova, far more than the driver’s claim of 4,000 packs.

Austrian customs seized the cigarettes and handed the case to the Financial Crime Authority, which is investigating tax‑evasion and duty‑fraud allegations. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer emphasised a “zero‑tolerance” policy for smuggling, noting the seizure removes untaxed tobacco from the black market and protects consumers.

The driver is under investigation for suspected ab‑gaben­hehlerei (tax evasion). Authorities said the operation is part of a broader effort to combat organised smuggling networks in Europe.