Customs stops illegal waste export

Customs authorities in Hamburg have stopped a container suspected of containing waste during an export control. The inspection took place in mid-January 2026 and revealed a variety of unregistered goods, including 2,500 tires, used flat-screen televisions, 15 sewing machines, as well as various electrical appliances, food items, and hygiene products. These goods were intended for export from Germany to Ghana.

According to Sandra Preising, spokesperson for the Hamburg Customs Office, there was no proof of the functionality of the electrical appliances at the time of the inspection. Therefore, the export was initially halted. Additionally, the relevant authority for environment, climate, energy, and agriculture was informed due to suspicions of illegal waste transport. This authority subsequently referred the case to the environmental agency in Bremen.

After the inspection, proof of functionality was provided for some of the electrical appliances. Nevertheless, the Bremen environmental agency classified several devices, including twelve electric sewing machines, as waste. Consequently, the sewing machines and tires had to be returned to the original shipping location and disposed of properly. However, the affected sender did not comply with this order.

In another attempt to circumvent the disposal directive, the sender again failed to register the goods and attempted to export them nonetheless. This attempt was discovered by officials from the Hamburg Customs Office during another inspection. Subsequently, the environmental agency in Bremen was immediately informed about the repeated attempt of illegal waste transport.

Preising stated that the sender had violated the Foreign Trade Act with the unregistered goods. The authority for environment, climate, energy, and agriculture is responsible for penalizing the attempt of illegal waste transport. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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