Netherlands seizes 1.2 million counterfeit cigarettes at German border

Dutch police and customs agents intercepted a shipment of about 1.2 million illegal cigarettes in a van near Bad Nieuweschans on the border with Germany. The contraband, intended to evade excise tax, was seized and removed from the market.

In a separate operation in Deventer, customs worked with the local municipality to inspect tobacco shops and kiosks, confiscating hundreds of illegal packs and issuing fines to several vendors. No arrests were made, but the inspections revealed that the products carried foreign warning labels, indicating they had been smuggled into the Netherlands.

The final batch of seized cigarettes was destroyed by incineration on 26 July under the supervision of an Officer of Justice, with forensic documentation to ensure the goods could not re‑enter commerce. Authorities emphasized the actions as part of a broader crackdown on economic crime, illicit trade and tax evasion.