Smuggling attempt at the Nickelsdorf border: Over 100,000 cigarettes from Moldova discovered in a freezer

In his initial questioning, the 35-year-old driver stated that he had bought the cigarettes in Romania and was transporting a total of 4,000 packets: "Der Fahrer gab an, in dieser 4.000 Packungen Zigaretten zu transportieren." Because there were considerable communication difficulties during the official proceeding, a Romanian-language interpreter had to be called in. During the course of the official proceeding, the intervening officers discovered a hidden freezer in the cargo area of the vehicle.

From discovery to seizure

After the discovery, the Austrian customs office (Zollamt Österreich) was called in to handle the official proceeding. The smuggled tobacco products were seized on the spot. As the authorities announced, the following applies for the further procedure: "Die Rauchware wurde beschlagnahmt und amtlich verwahrt." The man subsequently admitted that he had been aware that these were smuggled goods from Moldova.

The investigations were subsequently taken over by the responsible financial crime authority. The 35-year-old driver is now being investigated on suspicion of tax evasion (Abgabenhehlerei), as stated in the release. In financial criminal law, Abgabenhehlerei refers to the commercial procurement, storage, or sale of goods on which import duties have been evaded.

Suspicion of Abgabenhehlerei

According to current findings, the 35-year-old had intended to resell the tobacco products on the black market in Germany, Belgium, and France. The financial crime authority took over the further investigations. Personal consumption was also ruled out, according to the authorities.

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) responded with a clear political statement: "Im Interesse aller ehrlichen Steuerzahlerinnen und Steuerzahler gilt: Null Toleranz für Steuer- und Abgabenbetrug. Zigarettenschmuggel schadet dem Staat und birgt hohes Risiko für Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten." This underscored the ministry's line of consistently taking action against untaxed tobacco products.

Political reaction from the Ministry of Finance

The officers of the Nickelsdorf police inspection were deployed together with the Austrian customs office. The incident is part of a series of cigarette smuggling cases detected at Austria's eastern border in recent months. The Burgenland border region is considered one of the main smuggling routes for untaxed tobacco products from Eastern Europe.

Quantity and legal classification

The seized quantity of 100,960 cigarettes corresponds to approximately 5,048 cartons or about 4,000 packs, as the 35-year-old himself had stated. In Austria, Abgabenhehlerei can be punished under the Financial Criminal Act (Finanzstrafgesetz) with high fines or, in case of repetition, also with imprisonment.

According to the financial crime authority, investigators are also examining possible connections to cross-regional smuggling networks. Findings from the analysis of the seized goods, vehicle occupants, and possible mobile phones are expected to provide insight into the organization and the persons behind it.