Latest news Smuggling of liquid for e-cigarettes busted in Valais

Customs officers stopped a suspected smuggler of liquids for e-cigarettes during a mobile inspection in Valais at the beginning of October. The 53-year-old Swiss national was transporting undeclared goods worth tens of thousands of francs in his car.

The several boxes in the trunk of his car contained a total of almost 190 liters of liquid for electronic cigarettes, as reported by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) on Tuesday. The man told customs officials that he had entered the country via the unmanned border crossing at Morgins VS because he had not been able to clear customs the previous day in Basel due to a late arrival at the customs office.

This irregular import of nicotine-containing liquid for electronic cigarettes took place a few hours after the amendment to the Tobacco Tax Act came into force, the FOCA writes further in the press release. The amendment to the law also regulates nicotine-containing and nicotine-free disposable electronic cigarettes and nicotine-containing liquids or cartridges, which are now subject to tobacco tax.

In addition to a fine for violating the customs, tobacco and VAT laws, the man must pay the evaded duties amounting to several tens of thousands of francs. As the goods were destined for a specialist retailer, an investigation was also initiated.

SDA