The Czech Customs Administration (Celní správa ČR) has reported a major interception of untaxed goods on the D2 motorway linking Slovakia and Brno. In the early hours of Friday, 24 July 2026, a mobile patrol from the Brno customs office stopped a Bulgarian-registered van that was heading north toward the Czech industrial hub. Although the Bulgarian driver and his Romanian passenger initially claimed to be transporting only personal belongings and “a few bottles” for a family celebration, an inspection of hidden compartments revealed 540 bottles of spirits and thousands of loose cigarettes. None of the products bore Czech tax stamps or the EU excise markings required for intra-Union movements of excisable goods. Later the same morning, officers pulled over a second vehicle—this time bearing British plates and driving toward the Slovak border. The van was packed with undeclared power tools and construction equipment that had not been cleared for customs transit. The drivers were unable to produce CMR consignment notes or other documentation proving Union status of the freight. Under EU rules, any commercial movement of excisable goods across internal Schengen borders must be covered by the EMCS electronic transit system or the simplified accompanying document. Because the alcohol load far exceeded the quantitative allowances for personal use (10 litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine), customs officers detained the cargo and referred the case to the Service’s investigation branch. Preliminary calculations put the potential loss of Czech excise duty at more than CZK 100,000 (about EUR 4,000). Prosecutors in Břeclav have already opened fast-track criminal proceedings; the suspects face penalties ranging from heavy fines to deportation and a multi-year entry ban. The value of the seized goods will be set against any unpaid taxes, and the court may order their destruction if they cannot be legally re-exported. For companies that rely on ‘white-van’ road shipments between the Balkan Peninsula, the Czech Republic and onward to Western Europe, the bust is a stark reminder that internal Schengen borders are still policed for excise and security infringements. Random “mobile customs units” now operate up to 30 km inside the frontier under Article 23 of the Schengen Borders Code. Logistics managers are therefore urged to brief drivers on documentary requirements, ensure consignments are properly declared in EMCS, and factor in potential delays when routing via the busy D2 corridor, especially during the summer high-traffic season. Although the interceptions are unlikely to disrupt lawful freight flows, they underscore Prague’s tougher stance on smuggling—an issue that also affects business travellers who may inadvertently exceed duty-free limits when moving goods or samples. In the words of customs spokeswoman Mgr. Lada Temňáková, “Anyone caught abusing the freedoms of the Single Market for tax evasion risks confiscation of goods, criminal charges and, for non-EU nationals, expulsion from Czech territory.”
Source: Celní správa České republiky
