Customs Seize 9,500 Unpaid Cigarettes at Stuttgart Airport

A woman's attempt to smuggle cigarettes into the EU backfires. She's hit with a large fine and duty payment after exceeding the personal allowance by 47 times.

, and Administrator

2025 October 9 . 8:01 PM

1 min read

This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall and there are two lights. A few... — This image is taken indoors. In the background there is a wall and there are two lights. A few people are sitting on the chairs and there is a table with a few things on it. In the middle of the image there is a table with a bottle, a menu card and an ashtray on it. Two men and a woman are sitting on the chairs and they are smoking. They are holding cigarettes in their hands.

Customs Seize 9,500 Unpaid Cigarettes at Stuttgart Airport

Customs officers at Stuttgart Airport recently intercepted a traveler attempting to smuggle over 9,500 cigarettes into the EU. The woman, who arrived from Antalya, Turkey, was carrying 48 packs of untaxed cigarettes and believed she could import them duty-free without limit.

Upon inspection, it was discovered that the traveler had exceeded the personal allowance of 200 cigarettes. She was subsequently charged with tax evasion and had to pay 800 euros as security for the expected fine. After paying duties of 1,713.80 euros for the remaining over 9,000 cigarettes, the woman was allowed to proceed.

The Main Customs Office Stuttgart advises travelers to familiarize themselves with import regulations on their official website, zoll.de, to avoid such incidents. It is crucial to understand the limits on duty-free imports to prevent potential penalties.

The traveler's attempt to smuggle cigarettes resulted in a significant financial penalty. The incident serves as a reminder for all travelers to educate themselves about import regulations and adhere to the duty-free limits to avoid similar consequences.