German customs confiscated about a ton of non-taxable Shisha (Narghile) tobacco and about 25,000 euros in cash during nationwide inspections in several federal states, Bild daily reported.
The German newspaper confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for two Syrians from Erding County due to "suspected tax evasion."
It reported that the two men said that they "purchased illegal hookah tobacco" with 3 other suspects and sold it for profit, adding that there is information that hookah tobacco was made by (other suspects in an apartment in Dinslaken town and in a rented garage in Wesel city.
Customs investigators estimate the tax damage caused by the hookah tobacco trade at about 180,000 euros, according to the newspaper, which reported that search warrants obtained by the public prosecutor's offices in Landshut town and Duisburg city extended to 21 apartments, storage rooms and garages.
She pointed out that the raids were carried out by forces from the customs investigation office in Munich, and the customs investigation offices in Essen, Hanover, Dresden, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, in addition to the customs criminal investigation office and units of the main customs offices in Duisburg and Heilbronn.
In addition to the already finished and packaged products, customs investigators in Dinslaken and Hünxe confiscated equipment needed to make hookah tobacco, 50 kg of raw tobacco, 35 kg of smoked tobacco, 410 liters of glycerin and 20 liters of Flavorings and "counterfeit packaging". A substance from well-known manufacturers of illegally manufactured hookah tobacco.
According to the Bild, Investigations are still being conducted by the Customs Investigations Office in Munich under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor's offices in Landshut and Duisburg.
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