Germany's Major Coffee Tax Evasion Busts: Seizures Top 7 Tons, Arrests Made
Customs officials in Germany have made significant seizures of untaxed coffee, leading to arrests and substantial tax losses. The incidents highlight the ongoing issue of coffee tax evasion in the country.
On September 16, 2025, a major seizure took place near Limburg an der Lahn. A 39-year-old Syrian was arrested while transporting nearly four tons of untaxed coffee in his vehicle. He was unable to present the necessary customs documents, leading to his detention. The cargo was found to contain 245 kilograms of soluble coffee and over 176 kilograms of roasted coffee, valued at over 17,000 euros in unpaid tax.
Further investigations suggested the import of another three tons of untaxed coffee from the Netherlands in recent times. This follows a pattern of tax evasion, as duty-free allowances for coffee imports from the EU are limited to personal amounts, up to a maximum of ten kilograms. The German coffee tax stands at 2.19 euros per kilogram for roasted coffee and 4.78 euros for soluble coffee.
In another incident, approximately 3.5 tons of untaxed coffee were seized in Limburg an der Lahn and Giessen, adding to the total tax loss.
The recent seizures and arrests underscore the efforts of German customs to combat coffee tax evasion. With National Coffee Day falling on October 1st, these incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of tax compliance in the coffee industry. The total tax loss from these seizures amounts to over 17,000 euros, highlighting the significance of these operations in protecting state revenue.
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