German Customs Issues Stark Warning Ahead of New Year’s Eve Amid Surge in Illegal Fireworks
Berlin – As the year draws to a close, the General Customs Directorate (Generalzolldirektion) is issuing a forceful warning against the use of illegal fireworks, highlighting a significant and concerning rise in their seizure and the potential for serious injury. President Armin Rolfink, in a statement to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), cautioned that unauthorized pyrotechnics pose a severe risk, capable of inflicting devastating and even permanent harm.
Customs officials are intensifying efforts to intercept these dangerous devices, dismantling them at borders and within parcel deliveries. Recent data reveals an alarming trend: more than seven tons of illicit pyrotechnics were confiscated this year alone, surpassing the total seized over the preceding three years combined. This contrasts sharply with the approximately 500 kilograms removed from circulation in 2023, 300+ kilograms in 2022 and around 2.3 tons in 2021. These figures are further compounded by substantial quantities seized by local police forces across the nation.
The influx of illegal fireworks raises critical questions about border control and regulatory enforcement. Rolfink emphasized the illegality of importing unapproved pyrotechnics, explicitly stating that doing so triggers criminal proceedings against those responsible. He urged citizens to avoid purchasing fireworks of unknown origin or lacking the crucial CE marking, underscoring the importance of public safety during the New Year celebrations.
The issue gained high-profile attention last New Year’s Eve following a series of powerful explosions in Berlin, attributed to “kugelbomben” – spherical projectiles illegal for private use. These incidents, along with the frequent importation of highly potent fireworks from other EU countries, demonstrate a troubling disregard for German safety regulations. These imported items often possess a far more impactful explosive force than legally available consumer fireworks, raising concerns about potential damage and injury.
The escalating volume of confiscated illegal fireworks signals a potential breakdown in existing preventative measures and points to the need for a stricter assessment of how these dangerous goods are entering the country. Experts suggest a more robust collaborative effort involving customs, law enforcement and international counterparts may be necessary to effectively curb the flow and mitigate the considerable risks associated with unregulated pyrotechnics. The current situation demands not only public awareness but also a critical evaluation of policies designed to safeguard German citizens.
