Controls carried out by the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (OFDF) make it possible to intercept medicines, counterfeit goods and weapons in online purchases abroad. In one week, 692 shipments were seized.
These targeted checks carried out over a week in ten different locations in the Zurich region notably made it possible to intercept medicines prohibited for export (241), suspected counterfeits (188) and 79 weapons, the OFDF said on Thursday.
This control operation took place last week in the Zurich region because orders arrive by plane, in huge plastic bags filled with products from foreign e-commerce sites.
>> Read also: Finding yourself in court for purchasing an unapproved gadget on Temu
Erection inducers, doping agents and shark liver oil
Among the illegal drugs discovered, almost a third are erection inducers. The 79 weapons were discovered in 61 shipments. These are mainly kubotans (blunt weapons), toy weapons, knives and a few pistols.
OFDF employees also confiscated 51 shipments of narcotics, 45 packages containing 71 laser pointers and 43 packages with 54 non-compliant devices or devices intended to disrupt frequencies inside. They also discovered radar detectors, performance-enhancing drugs and shipments of shark liver oil relating to species conservation.
The prohibited items and medications were seized and transmitted to the competent authorities. The cantonal criminal prosecution authorities are notified regarding weapons and drugs. Suspected infringements are forwarded to the relevant trademark owners for review.
For seized doping products, the OFDF contacts Swissmedic or Swiss Sport Integrity. For non-compliant devices or devices intended to disrupt frequencies, the objects are handed over to the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM).
Fines or criminal proceedings
The competent authorities then decide what action to take. They can impose fines or initiate criminal proceedings, specifies the OFDF.
The main countries of origin of confiscated goods vary depending on the type of goods. The drugs seized mainly come from India and China via Germany. Counterfeit branded items, weapons and laser pointers and non-compliant or frequency disrupting devices came from China. The drugs came from different countries.
The number of orders has exploded. At the end of September, the number of shipments to Switzerland had already reached the same level as for the whole of 2023. In total, customs predict that 55 million orders will arrive in Switzerland in 2024.
In the packages checked this week, many came from the two Chinese platforms Temu and Shein. But that’s not necessarily where the seized products come from.
The Chinese platform Temu in the sights of Swiss distributors
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