Italian smuggles pure alcohol in milk and shampoo bottles
Published: Wednesday, Jun 5th 2024, 10:30
Back to Live Feed
An Italian motorhome driver tried to smuggle 135 liters of pure alcohol in various bottles into Graubünden. He was caught by Swiss customs, fined heavily and sent back to Italy.
As reported by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) on Wednesday, the man wanted to enter Switzerland via the La Drossa customs crossing in Graubünden on 21 May. During an inspection, customs officials found dozens of bottles of water, milk, shampoo and schnapps inside the car. All contained ethanol, i.e. pure alcohol.
The driver was fined a four-figure sum, which he paid on the spot. As he did not want to pay duty on the alcohol, he was sent back to Italy with the goods.
Ethanol is used as a legal additive for alcoholic beverages. Pure alcohol is also used as a solvent and disinfectant, for medical or cosmetic purposes and as a fuel.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic