Cologne Customs Bust €17k Coffee Tax Evasion Case
Cologne customs have uncovered a significant tax evasion case involving untaxed coffee. A 36-year-old German national is under investigation for evading over €17,000 in taxes.
The investigation began when customs officers seized nearly four tons of untaxed coffee on September 16, 2025. Further checks led to the discovery of another three and a half tons of untaxed coffee at various locations. The coffee, both roasted and soluble, was found in a vehicle driven by a 39-year-old Syrian, who was stopped at the Königsforst rest area on the A3.
The seized coffee weighed approximately 3.5 tons, consisting of around 245 kilograms of soluble coffee and over 176 kilograms of roasted coffee. Evidence found at the scene suggested the import of another three tons of untaxed coffee from the Netherlands in recent times. Despite the investigation, the name and address of the company involved remain unknown.
In Germany, the coffee tax stands at €2.19 per kilogram of roasted coffee and €4.78 per kilogram of soluble coffee. However, coffee imports from the Netherlands and other EU countries are tax-exempt for personal quantities up to ten kilograms.
The Cologne customs authority continues to investigate this case, aiming to recover the unpaid taxes and prevent further tax evasion. The seized coffee, totaling over seven tons, represents a significant loss to the German treasury. Nationwide, customs collected around one billion euros in coffee tax in 2024.
