Vorarlberg Customs Seizes Drugs, Concealed Weapons and Champagne – 2026 Report
In the first half of 2026, customs in Vorarlberg recorded 430 successful seizures – including narcotics, concealed stabbing weapons and 790 litres of champagne.
Vorarlberg Customs: 430 Seizures in Six Months
Customs in Vorarlberg carried out more than 5,000 lorry inspections and approximately 16,000 mobile vehicle checks in the first half of 2026. According to Google News AT — Crime (de), there were 430 successful seizures in total – with some unusual finds among them.
Seized goods included drugs, prohibited weapons and items lacking species protection permits. Narcotics were confiscated 120 times in road and postal traffic, and officers also encountered smuggled cigarettes as well as violations of species and plant protection regulations.
Vorarlberg's geographical location and proximity to the Swiss border make frequent inspections necessary. The responsible Finance Ministry told ORF that travel traffic at the borders is checked daily – both on entry and exit.
Particularly striking: during a routine inspection, two walking sticks turned out to be concealed stabbing weapons. The blades were hidden inside the sticks and could be pulled out. Both items were seized.
During one of a total of 220 mobile inspections, authorities also confiscated 790 litres of champagne worth approximately 23,000 euros. Two crocodile-leather handbags were likewise seized – the required CITES documents, which regulate international trade in products from protected animal species, were missing for these items.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)