German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
German customs seized 115,800 untaxed vapes worth an estimated €1.4 million in tax losses during four truck inspections.Summary
Germany's Magdeburg Main Customs Office seized 115,800 untaxed e-cigarettes containing 4.366 million mL of e-liquid during four truck inspections between August 10 and September 4, 2026, along the A2 and A38 motorways, preventing an estimated €1.397 million in tax losses and setting a jurisdiction record. The largest single seizure, on September 4, involved 48,000 devices with 2.16 million mL of e-liquid and €691,200 in estimated tax losses. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four truck drivers, one temporarily detained, on suspicion of commercial handling of tax-evaded goods and violations of the Tobacco Tax Act and Tobacco Products Act. The applicable e-liquid excise tax rate reached €0.32 per mL in 2026. The seizures follow a separate German investigation disclosed in September 2026 involving more than 7.6 million illicit vapes and an estimated €33.3 million in tax losses, with 23 suspects including four employees of an unnamed Chinese manufacturer. After publication, VOZOL disputed the identification of its brand in a customs photo, saying the logo differs from its official one and that no product named "VOZOL PRO" exists; 2Firsts updated its wording while customs figures remain unchanged.
(Source：2Firsts)
