German customs seize millions of illegal cigarettes and counterfeit textiles

Customs officials in Augsburg, Bavaria, inspected a coach on the A8 highway on July 24, 2026, uncovering 8,280 illegal cigarettes and 144 counterfeit branded garments hidden in seat compartments. The driver and passengers, all from Turkey, had not declared the goods, leading to charges of trademark infringement.

In a related operation across the Düsseldorf region, customs agents raided apartments and storage sites in Erkrath, Hilden, Langenfeld and other North Rhine‑Westphalia towns, confiscating more than ten million untaxed cigarettes—about 150,000 packs—and recovering €50,000 discarded to avoid detection. Prosecutors say the trio behind the smuggling caused an estimated €8 million tax loss and face up to five and a half years in prison. The investigation began after an anonymous tip and involved phone tapping and location tracking. The illegal products were distributed throughout Nordrhein‑Westfalen, Hessen, Baden‑Württemberg and Saarland.