German customs officials and police have launched a major crackdown at the Stuttgart “Hall of Vape” exhibition. The aggressive enforcement targets exhibitors violating the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Germany’s e-liquid tax laws, resulting in widespread product confiscations and multiple arrests.
During the weekend event, authorities systematically inspected booths for proper tax stamps and TPD compliance, which mandates a maximum 2ml e-liquid capacity for disposable vapes. Products failing to meet these standards were immediately removed from the show floor.
The official customs report revealed significant irregularities across the exhibition:
- Widespread Evasion: Out of 15 booths inspected, 11 were found violating regulations, leading to the seizure of nearly 300 liters of untaxed tobacco substitutes.
- Financial Impact: The commercial import of these illicit products resulted in approximately €46,000 in evaded tobacco taxes. Authorities collected €36,000 as security for impending fines and initiated eight criminal proceedings.
- Detentions: Police escorted at least two individuals off the premises for refusing to pay an immediate €800 fine for non-compliant products. Additionally, six booth workers were handed over to state police under suspicion of illegal residency.
The crackdown included the complete confiscation of inventory from specific exhibitors, notably the brand “Juice N Power.”
This strict enforcement follows the end of Germany’s tax transition period in February 2023. Since July 2022, e-liquids have been subject to a tax of 16 cents per milliliter. The raids highlight the German government’s escalating zero-tolerance policy toward tax evasion and non-compliant vape products, alongside ongoing discussions in the Federal Council to ban disposable vapes entirely.
