Customs authorities in Switzerland have seized over two tons of smuggled food, which was being transported without adequate cooling conditions.
One of the vehicles was also overloaded with nearly one ton.
Swiss Customs and Border Security authorities have uncovered two cases of food smuggling during the 17 October audits held in Ederswiler and Pratteln.
In the first case, about 2:30 a.m., officials banned a Yura canton license vehicle. During the search, 162kg of chicken, 258 kg of frozen potatoes, 128 kg of flat bread, and ten kilograms of flour were found in the cargo space.
According to authorities, customs duties were not paid for goods, while perishable products were transported without a cooling system.
The two persons in the vehicle were forced to pay several thousand francs for their duties and fines. Food was seized, writes BlackTelevision broadcast.
In the second case, just before 0500 hours, another customs team stopped a van in Pratteln, in the Basel-Landschaft canton.
About 1.5 tons of frozen potatoes and 632kg of flat bread were discovered in the vehicle. These products too were being transported without cooling and without paying the required customs duties.
The check also found that the van was overloaded with 930kg over the allowed weight.
Because two people — French citizens aged 20 — could not pay their obligations and fines in the country, worth a total of over 10,000 francs, authorities seized the vehicle. The manager was reported for violations regarding the overload.
Swiss authorities continue raids on preventing smuggling and implementing customs and food safety regulations./Telegraphy/