Cologne Customs breaks the 5 billion mark and combats undeclared work!

Cologne Customs breaks the 5 billion mark and combats undeclared work!

The clock is ticking in Cologne customs, and the balance sheet reads impressively: in 2024, the customs officers recorded income of almost five billion euros. This enormous sum speaks volumes about the active controls carried out and the tireless efforts against undeclared work and illegal businesses. The import sales tax of around four billion euros contributes significantly to the income rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de reported.

But the numbers are not just pale statistics. In Cologne there is a roundup of illegal goods every day. Over 1,100 cases of illegal products were uncovered, including a whopping 23,000 kilos of counterfeit detergent. Particularly sensational was the seizure of a truck with counterfeit tracksuits, shoes and handbags, the value of which was more than four million euros. This cargo was on its way from Turkey to North Rhine-Westphalia and shows how deeply rooted the shadow economy is here.

Illegal stimulants and drugs

It doesn't stop with counterfeit branded items: at Cologne/Bonn Airport, customs dogs sniffed out a whopping 218 kilograms of marijuana from packages from the USA in just two nights. In total, over 4.1 tons of marijuana, 287 kilos of hashish and 115 kilos of crystal were confiscated last year. These measures not only put a big hole in the pockets of criminals, but also ensure that the dangerous drug trade is stopped. Loud zdf.de Customs in the international postal center in Frankfurt/Main is one of the key players in the fight against smuggled goods. Up to 450,000 shipments are viewed here every day.

In addition, customs officers confiscated more than 3.8 million untaxed cigarettes. These are just the cases that were uncovered. The number of unreported cases is often even higher because many smuggling methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Fight against undeclared work and those who should know better

Combating undeclared work is also high on the customs officers’ agenda. Over 800 companies were audited, which led to a total of 5,000 investigations. These measures result in damages of over 40 million euros for social security funds bundesfinanzministerium.de reported.

The numbers are alarming: Last year, over 25,000 employers were checked and almost 97,000 criminal investigations were initiated. The customs officers face organized crime in many forms, while they are better positioned following the 2019 expansion of their audit and investigative powers.

And there is a ray of hope: the main customs office in Cologne currently has 385 trainees, 109 of whom will be brought on board from September 1st. It is a significant step to further expand capacities and to fight more decisively against illegal practices. Because one thing is clear: in the world of bags and cigarettes, customs' work is far from over.