Illicit tobacco crackdown & tax hikes widen

Timeline

1. about 19 hours ago

   [POLITICS] 4 sources

   Germany plans major tax hikes on tobacco, alcohol and sugar to raise billions

   Germany will raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and introduce a sugar levy, seeking billions in extra revenue, amid public support but concerns about effectiveness and organised‑crime gains.

2. 3 days ago

   [CRIME] 3 sources

   Bulgarian customs seize over 250,000 smuggled cigarettes near Vidin

   Bulgarian customs seized over 250,000 smuggled cigarettes in two raids near Vidin, confiscating goods worth €48,000 and preventing €28,500 in lost excise taxes.

3. 5 days ago

   [HEALTH] 2 sources

   Germany plans tobacco tax hike, cigarettes may cost €12 per pack by 2030

   Germany's drafted law will raise tobacco taxes in four stages through 2030, potentially pushing pack prices from €9.20 today to about €12, while also increasing taxes on e‑liquids and heated tobacco.

4. 10 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Polish police seize illegal tobacco stock worth over 3 million PLN and shut illegal gambling salon

   Polish police confiscated over 100,000 untaxed cigarettes and related products in Poznań, causing a projected loss of over 3 million zł, and also closed an illegal gambling salon in Otwock, seizing five slot‑w

5. 12 days ago

   [POLITICS] 2 sources

   German tobacco tax hike criticized by customs union over black‑market risk

   German customs union warns the planned tobacco tax hike could boost the black market and cut state revenue, while the finance minister pushes the increase to fund the budget.

6. 13 days ago

   [CRIME] 10 sources

   Dutch Customs Seize 106 Million Illegal Cigarettes, Tighten Anti‑Smuggling

   Dutch Customs seized 106 million illegal cigarettes and increased anti‑smuggling measures; Belgian Customs saw a drop in Antwerp cocaine seizures but seized 454 kg in a joint operation; a KPMG report shows a 23

7. 14 days ago

   [POLITICS] 56 sources

   Germany to raise tobacco tax, targeting almost €12 per pack by 2030

   Germany will raise tobacco tax, pushing pack prices to about €12 by 2030, aiming to fund the budget and cut smoking, with 70% public support.

8. 18 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Bulgaria police seize 50,000 illegal vapes near Sofia

   Bulgarian police seized over 50,000 untaxed vapes in a warehouse near Sofia, detaining a 42‑year‑old suspect and probing a smuggling network.

9. 21 days ago

   [CRIME] 5 sources

   Polish police seize nearly 8 tonnes of illicit tobacco in Łódź region

   Polish police busted an illegal tobacco factory in Łódź, seizing ~8 tonnes of product worth >4 million zł and arresting three people, averting a potential 10 million zł tax loss.

10. 23 days ago

    [POLITICS] 20 sources

    Germany to raise spirituous liquor tax by 20% in 2027

    Germany's 2027 budget will hike spirit tax 20% (rum, vodka, etc.) generating ~€455 m yearly, raise tobacco tax annually and introduce a sugar levy, aiming to cut consumption and fund health costs.

11. 25 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    German police and customs seize smuggled cosmetics and cigarettes

    German police and customs seized €15,000 of cosmetics and over 23,000 cigarettes hidden in vehicles, launching investigations into Romanian‑linked smuggling operations.

12. 26 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Bulgaria police bust high‑tech illegal cigarette factory in Mizia, arrest 9

    Bulgarian police, with Polish and EU partners, shut down a high‑tech illegal cigarette factory in Mizia, seizing equipment, trucks and over 100 million cigarettes, and arresting nine people.

13. 28 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources

    Germany raises alcohol tax 20% on sparkling wine, spirits and alcopops

    Germany will raise excise tax 20% on sparkling wine, spirits, liqueur wines and alcopops from next year, aiming to earn €400 million and improve health outcomes, while beer and wine stay exempt.

14. 29 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 7 sources

    Germany plans steep tax hike on shisha tobacco, prices could double

    Germany's finance ministry proposes raising shisha tobacco tax from €56/kg to €188/kg by 2030, likely doubling retail prices and sparking concerns over a surge in illegal sales.

15. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 16 sources

    German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil proposes 20% rise in alcohol taxes

    Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil proposes a 20 % increase in German alcohol taxes on spirits and related drinks from 2027, aiming to raise €400‑€455 m annually while keeping beer and wine unchanged; health‑conc‑

16. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

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

    Austrian police at Nickelsdorf seized 100,960 smuggled Moldovan cigarettes hidden in a freezer, prompting a tax‑evasion probe and a zero‑tolerance response from the finance ministry.

17. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources

    Germany to raise tobacco taxes, boosting state revenue

    Germany plans to increase tobacco taxes, lifting cigarette prices to over €11 by 2030 and generating roughly €8.5 billion in extra revenue while aiming to curb smoking.

18. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources

    South Korea strengthens e‑cigarette import controls amid tax‑evasion allegations

    South Korea refutes large‑scale tax‑evasion claims over Chinese e‑cigarettes, cites 44 detection cases, and tightens import checks, health assessments and crack‑downs on mislabelled products.

19. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    French courts convict traffickers in counterfeit cigarettes and stolen vehicle networks

    French courts sentenced traffickers in a counterfeit cigarette ring and a stolen‑vehicle network, highlighting cross‑border crime affecting dozens of victims.

20. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Hong Kong steps up crackdown on illegal e‑cigarette imports

    Hong Kong jailed a woman for importing 18,000 e‑cigarettes and seized HK$16 million of similar illegal goods, highlighting strict enforcement of its tobacco‑control laws.

21. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    French customs seize large cigarette and cannabis shipments in northern France

    French customs seized 100 kg of untaxed cigarettes from a Belgian driver near Amiens and four kilos of cannabis from Miami in Oise, leading to fines and court convictions.

22. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources

    Germany plans tobacco tax hike, aims for €8.5 billion extra revenue by 2030

    Germany will increase tobacco taxes from 2027, lifting a pack’s price to €11.40 by 2030 and targeting €8.5 billion in extra revenue while aiming to reduce smoking.

23. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    French customs seize 100 kg of counterfeit cigarettes on A29

    Customs seized about 100 kg of untaxed Marlboro cigarettes on France’s A29 on 16 June 2026, arresting a Brussels‑based driver and imposing a €15,000 fine.

24. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Ukrainian driver caught smuggling 910 cigarette packs in ambulance at Poland's Korczowa border

    A Ukrainian woman attempted to cross Poland’s Korczowa border in an ambulance, claiming to transport patients, but customs found 910 packs of untaxed cigarettes and opened a tax‑crime case.

25. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    German Customs Seizes Illegal Cigarette Factory in Rhineland-Palatinate

    German customs busted an illegal cigarette factory in Rhineland‑Palatinate, seizing 80 million cigarettes, 16 tonnes of tobacco and arresting four suspects.

26. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Polish police confiscate nearly a kilogram of drugs in Katowice and seize 22,000 untaxed cigarettes in Łęczyca

    Polish police seized almost 1 kg of drugs in Katowice and recovered about 22,000 illicit cigarettes and 20 kg of untaxed tobacco in Łęczyca, charging the suspects with drug possession and tax evasion.

27. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Polish customs seize large cigarette and marijuana smuggling operations at border

    Polish customs busted an ambulance hiding 910 cigarette packs at the Poland‑Ukraine border and uncovered 47 kg of marijuana concealed in mandarin cans from Thailand in Warsaw.

28. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources

    Polish Senate approves 40 zł excise tax on e‑cigarettes

    Poland's Senate approved a 40 zł excise tax on induction‑based e‑cigarettes, closing a tax loophole; the bill moves to presidential signature and will be enforced after two months.

29. about 2 months ago

    [HEALTH] 3 sources

    French police seize 749 illegal disposable e‑cigarettes in Saint‑Étienne

    Police in Saint‑Étienne seized 749 illegal disposable e‑cigarettes worth €10 k, citing a 2025 ban and health risks; the devices will be destroyed.

30. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Polish authorities seize 1.4 million untaxed cigarettes in illegal factory raid

    Polish customs and police busted an illegal cigarette factory in Lower Silesia, seizing 1.4 million untaxed cigarettes worth over 3 million PLN and arresting five men.

31. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Germany faces €0.5 billion tax loss from booming illegal cigarette market

    A KPMG study shows Germany’s illegal cigarette market grew to 1.9 billion units, costing about €0.5 billion in tax revenue and sparking debate over higher tobacco taxes.

32. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Vienna police and customs seize 327 illegal e‑cigarettes from city shop

    Vienna authorities seized 327 illegal e‑cigarettes that exceeded EU limits and reported related labour violations after a joint inspection on May 28, 2026.

33. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Polish police confiscate illegal cigarettes and e‑products worth over 1.9 million zł

    Polish police seized illegal e‑cigarettes and over 50,000 untaxed cigarette packs, costing the state roughly 2 million zł.