In Germany, customs officers uncovered violations of sanctions against russia

Customs officials in Hamburg are searching the offices and private premises of a Berlin-based food retailer and seizing numerous pieces of evidence and property worth several hundred thousand euros. They suspect industrial-scale tax evasion and violations of sanctions against russia.

Since mid-2024, the Hamburg customs service has been investigating a Berlin-based online food retailer on behalf of the Hamburg public prosecutor's office on suspicion of importing caviar substitutes from russia into Germany as luxury goods in violation of the sanctions in force. In addition, there is a suspicion that he deliberately evaded customs duties amounting to more than one million euros by providing false information in customs declarations.

Over the past six years, the entrepreneur allegedly repeatedly provided customs authorities with incorrect customs classification codes when importing his goods in order to pay lower customs duties on caviar substitutes, which were imported into Germany mainly from America and partly from russia.

The irregularities were discovered as a result of thorough checks of the goods during customs clearance. The accused then attempted to clear his goods at other customs offices in the same way. However, his actions were also unsuccessful.

An inspection of the goods from russia also gave rise to the suspicion that the accused may have simultaneously violated the ban on the import of luxury goods from Russia, which was imposed in accordance with the sanctions provisions. Caviar substitutes are considered luxury goods if they are suitable for human consumption. However, the entrepreneur told customs that his goods weren't fit for consumption. This was refuted by the customs authorities' inspection of the goods.

Customs investigators in Hamburg searched the entrepreneur's home and office premises. Numerous pieces of evidence were seized. Assets worth several hundred thousand euros were also secured. Employees of the Berlin-Brandenburg customs service were involved in the large-scale operation.

Niels Gartner, head of the Hamburg customs service, said: "Through its targeted investigative work, the customs intelligence service is making a significant contribution to ensuring compliance with international sanctions by consistently pursuing cases of circumvention of sanctions provisions. At the same time, import duty evasion amounting to more than one million euros was detected."

Further investigations by the Hamburg customs intelligence service are continuing on behalf of the Hamburg public prosecutor's office.

Source: PRESSEPORTAL