Customs Office Autobahn - on the hunt for product pirates
- By sennenqshop/li>
- 756
- 04/03/2023
Monday in the morning at 10 a.m.: Five trucks are on the parking area in front of the Helmstedt customs office on Autobahn 2 and are waiting for the acceptance by the officials.A 40-tonner from Bulgaria is the turn of.The customs officer Jules Belitz has the rear doors open the driver and looks at a wall stacked on top of each other.
"We can't look like this," he says, asks to drive the driver to the covered ramp.There the truck driver patiently pulls the sliding tarpaulin aside.Now the tax collector has a better view and can be handed over two packages that the driver opens with a carpet knife.
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Mit * markierte Felder sind Pflichtfelder. Eine Abmeldung ist jederzeit über einen Link im Newsletter möglich.“It has nothing to do with convenience.The drivers open the packages themselves so that no manipulation can be accused of, ”explains Andreas Löhde, press spokesman for the main customs office in Braunschweig, which also includes Helmstedt.The customs officer Belitz now examines a nightgown and underwear from the packages that are intended for German trade and comes to the conclusion: Everything is fine.The driver can pack up again, will receive his papers and may continue.
For exporters and importers and importers, they can choose the customs clearance in which a shipping procedure is opened."Many come to Helmstedt for this," reports Ines Bachmann, head of the Helmstedt customs office.On the one hand, this is due to the excellent location.
Many "regular customers"
"Almost everyone from Eastern Europe comes here," says Bachmann.The other reason why many freight forwarders choose Helmstedt.“They know us from before.“So there are many“ regular customers ”from all over Europe.This includes the big mail order companies like Otto and Bonprix.
Before German unity, customs was one of the largest employers in Helmstedt.There are currently 14 officials on the motorway.From Monday to Friday the office is occupied in two layers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.."It is our customs office with the longest opening times," says Löhde.The main customs office of Braunschweig extends to Göttingen.Also in the number of shipping procedures opened, Helmstedt is top in his area.There are 5000 a year.However, there are significantly more jobs in the Helmstedt-Stadt customs office, where around 100 employees are employed in the enforcement center.
Much of the tasks on the highway are eliminated on the goods loading for import and export.But postal traffic and vehicle tax are also part of the tasks of the customs office.After the examination, the truck receive a corresponding seal after the examination, with which you can drive to your destination within the European Union."From here, the freight forwarders can go anywhere without being controlled again," explains Bachmann.
For trips outside the EU, the customs officers also award the "Carnet Tir", which can be seen in many transports at the back of the lettering with the three letters.It is based on an international commercial contract.
Samples of truck loads were regularly included.The Helmstedter customs officials are specially trained for this - for example on the subject of locking safety or where the best hiding places are in trucks.
“Actually, we don't search loads.Only if there is a suspicion, ”says Bachmann.“Then let's let everything clear.“But that rarely happens.She has not yet pulled cigarette or drug smugglers out of circulation in Helmstedt, says Bachmann.
Pallets are also fake
Product piracy, on the other hand, is often an issue."Only recently did we pull fake euro pallets out of circulation," she reports.The inferior wood was noticed immediately.False toys or designer bags are also one of the frequent counterfeits."You can immediately recognize it by the bad seams," the official shows at a copy.
The brand manufacturers regularly provide customs with information on how to recognize counterfeits."We also notice it if the value specified does not fit the product, for example when an Italian designer bag from Eastern Europe comes and should cost 20 euros," explains Löhde.
The products pulled out of traffic are all burned in the Buschhaus power plant.The Helmstedter customs officers discover such material about once a month."There are always waves, for example when the Fidget spinners were up to date," reports Bachmann.
To compensate for this data and to see that everything is right - are the main tasks at the Helmstedter customs.The officials check documents-such as the freight documents and preference proof.Sometimes the information does not match the goods actually invited.“Anyone who works at customs should be open to humans and be interested in a lot.He also needs a feel if something is wrong, ”Bachmann explains the versatile customs officer work.
At the Helmstedter customs office on the highway, you never know who is in front of you next.Many freight forwarders already use the opportunity to transmit the necessary documents online in advance."The associated truck can then be here within the next five minutes or only in five days," says Bachmann.Foreign language skills are also an advantage in dealing with long -distance drivers.
Customs are always looking for suitable applicants, says Löhde."We have relatively high demands," said the press officer.Competencies in law and finance have to bring prospective customs officers.In addition, one would have to be ready to wear a service weapon."However, this is not necessary for us in Helmstedt," says Bachmann.The controls were all peaceful there.
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