Drugs, pills, animals

Increase in smuggling: “Nothing that doesn’t exist”

The domestic sniffer dogs found a lot of money, cannabis and more in the previous year.

(Bild: BMF/Zoll)

The smuggling of drugs, medicines, animals etc. increased sharply in the previous year. The authorities removed around 217 kilograms of drugs from circulation, mainly cannabis. And the range of illegal imports was enormous. Finance Minister Magnus Brunner: "There is nothing that does not exist."

Austrian customs collected around 8.1 billion euros last year. This was announced by Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) and the head of the Austrian customs office, Heike Fetka-Blüthner, at a press conference in Vienna on Tuesday. In addition, an increase of 24 percent in narcotics was recorded in 2023, said Brunner. Around 217 kilograms of drugs had been withdrawn from circulation. The majority of these were cannabis.

The drugs seized often included sexual enhancers and psychotropic drugs.

(Bild: BMF/Zoll)

The herb accounted for the largest share with 112 kilograms, followed by around 33 kilograms of psychotropic substances, around 26 kilograms of new psychoactive substances and khat with 28 kilograms. Opiates and cocaine were seized in quantities of 10.6 and 7.10 kilograms respectively. Fetka-Blüthner gave media representatives the example of a courier shipment. In the package from Australia, 3.56 kilograms of ketamine had been discovered hidden in toy balls. In the narcotics sector, the ministry recorded an overall increase of 24 percent.

Minister of Finance Magnus Brunner is gripping his head in view of the range of smuggling activities: "There is nothing that does not exist."

(Bild: klemens groh)

In the area of medicines, 798,858 units, 1908 packs and 234 kilograms (ointments, creams and solutions) of medicines were seized. "The majority of these confiscated medicines were sexual enhancers, lifestyle preparations, psychotropic drugs and performance-enhancing preparations," says Fetka-Blüthner.

In the area of tobacco products, 1,429,278 cigarettes, 16,063 cigars and cigarillos and 957 e-cigarettes were seized. In addition, 375 kilograms and 13,697 pieces of various other tobacco products were seized.

Many small animals were also smuggled - and often transported in poor conditions.

(Bild: BMF/Zoll)

Brunner also highlighted examples from the area of animal seizures. In the course of 2023, 227 illegally smuggled animals were apprehended. The majority of these were pets such as dogs and cats. There were also seizures in the area of species protection. In this context, a major seizure of 89 reptiles at Vienna Airport - including geckos, snakes and scorpions - was mentioned, as well as insects with an estimated total value of 46,800 euros.

Another find of 49 protected seahorses and the seizure of 18 yellow-headed parrots in Lower Austria were also included in the tally. "There is nothing that doesn't exist," said Brunner. "Unfortunately, the animals are often in a pitiful condition," added the director. Parts of animals such as horns, bones, skins and leather from endangered species, corals and caviar were also confiscated in tourist traffic. Further increases were also recorded in the area of product piracy. In total, the number of seizures rose by seven percent. The number of checks carried out amounted to 310,000.