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– These are people who have a van and who bring all kinds of goods to people living in Norway, says section manager Per Kristian Grandahl at Svinesund customs to NRK.
Typically, people in Eastern European countries are behind the wheel of so-called “goods taxis”, a term used for the illegal private transport of goods across the border.
These transports are not a new phenomenon for customs agents who are in charge of the largest border crossing between Norway and Sweden.
But until 2020, they have appeared more and more frequently. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, it exploded, according to Grandahl.
– There are many who cannot travel to Sweden by themselves and so this can be natural. But lately it’s been violent, there’s been a big, big increase. In the last week, there have been a lot of greedy, he says.
Freight taxis are often filled with many different goods that go to different people in Norway.
Photo: Tolletaten
Many have been revised
It was Dagsavisen Demokraten who first wrote about freight taxis. According to the newspaper, Svinesund customs officials have reported 12 to 13 people in the last week alone.
Furthermore, simplified fines have been issued to Norwegians who have crossed the border to make purchases, but have brought too much to Norway.
Section Chief Per Kristian Grandahl of the Svinesund customs office says he has exploded with so-called “freight taxis” in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Photo: Stian Pedersen / NRK
– When it comes to freight taxis, they come with everything strange. There are auto parts, interior, meat, alcohol and cigarettes. They also usually come with personal belongings. But if you want personal belongings to be tax-free in the country, the main rule of thumb is that you must carry them yourself, says Grandahl.
Svinesund customs officials have also received comments that they have observed the same trend at the Ørje and Kongsvinger border crossings.
Time consuming work
In recent weeks, cars full of paintings, fake watches and tiles have been stopped.
One car was loaded with up to half a ton of pork, and another was carrying five large containers of gas that is illegal to transport both in and out of Norway.
In the last week, among other things, 15 paintings were seized in Svinesund.
Photo: Tolletaten
Merchandise is seized from detained persons in addition to being reported. Although there are many who are discovered at the border, there are probably more who escape.
– There are probably some who manage to slip away. We can take a good deal, but it is a big job and it takes a long time to go through these transports. There are cars that are loaded with many different products, says Grandahl.
