Customs Officers Intercept Gold Smuggling at Weeze Airport
On May 11, customs officers from the travel control unit of the Duisburg Main Customs Office conducted an inspection at Weeze Airport, targeting two women arriving from Morocco, aged 31 and 52. These travelers, a mother and daughter duo, attempted to pass through the green exit designated for goods that do not require declaration. However, they were stopped by a customs trainee, who was on duty as part of her training at the Duisburg Main Customs Office, for a routine customs check upon their entry from a non-EU country.
During the examination of their luggage using an X-ray machine, multiple jewelry boxes were identified, which prompted the customs officers to request that the travelers open their bags for a more thorough inspection. The officers discovered receipts for various pieces of gold jewelry within the boxes. It became evident that the two women were carrying gold jewelry, including bracelets and rings, acquired in Morocco, with an estimated total value of around €20,000 on their person.
This value significantly exceeded the duty-free allowance of €430 per person for air travelers, making it mandatory for the women to declare the goods at customs. Due to their use of the green exit for goods that do not require declaration, both travelers are now suspected of attempting tax evasion. Consequently, a tax evasion investigation was initiated on-site, and the gold jewelry was seized as evidence. The estimated tax loss from this transaction exceeds €4,000.
As reported by niederrhein-nachrichten.de.
