Cologne customs cracks 5 billion marks and fights undeclared work!

Cologne customs cracks 5 billion marks and fights undeclared work!

The clock is running in Cologne in Cologne, and the balance sheet is impressive: in 2024 the customs officers recorded income of almost five billion euros. This enormous sum speaks volumes about the actively carried out controls and the tireless efforts against undeclared work and illegal business. The import sales tax of around four billion euros contributes significantly to the income, such as "https://www.rheinische-verbeschbenblaetter.de/koeln/c-blaulicht/koelner-zoll-bilanz-zoll-knack-5-milliarden-marden-marden-marden-marden-marden-marden-manden- ads reported.

But the numbers are not just pale statistics. In Cologne, a roundabout is made around the illegal goods every day. Over 1,100 cases of illegal products have been uncovered, including a total of 23,000 kilos of fake detergent. The attack of a truck with fake training suits, shoes and handbags was particularly sensational, the value of which was more than four million euros. This cargo was on the way from Turkey to North Rhine-Westphalia and shows how deep the shadow economy is rooted here.

illegal luxury foods and drugs

It does not stop with fake branded items: At Cologne/Bonn Airport, customs dogs sniffed a whopping 218 kilograms of marijuana from packages from the USA in just two nights. A total of over 4.1 tons of marijuana, 287 kilos of hashish and 115 kilos of Crystal were confiscated last year. These measures not only make a large hole in the pockets of the criminals, but also ensure that dangerous drug trafficking is stopped. According to ZDF.de , the customs in the international post center of Frankfurt/Main is one of the decisive actors in the fight against smuggling goods. Up to 450,000 programs are spotted here every day.

In addition, the customs officers confiscated more than 3.8 million untrained cigarettes. These are only the cases that have also been uncovered. The number of unreported cases is often even higher because many smuggling methods are becoming more and more sophisticated.

fight against undeclared work and those who should know better

The fight against undeclared work is also at the top of the customs officers' agenda. Over 800 companies were checked, which led to a total of 5,000 investigations. These measures ensure a damage caused by over 40 million euros for the social security funds, such as "https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/content/de/standardartikel/themen/zoll/gerechtz-faire-wajbe/illegal-ist-unsocial.html"> bundesfinanzministry.

The numbers are alarming: After all, over 25,000 employers were checked last year and almost 97,000 investigations were initiated due to crimes. The customs officers face the organized crime in many forms, while they are better positioned by expanding their testing and investigative powers from 2019.

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