Authorities want to take action: will the Zermatt-Italy cable car become a smuggling carrier?

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They hide goods in the side consoles of cars, in the goods of trucks, or send them by cross-border mail: When they smuggle goods illegally across borders, smugglers’ creativity knows no bounds.

A slightly more cumbersome variant is the smuggling of goods in cross-border ski areas – at least until now. In Zermatt, the so-called Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, with a direct cable car connection between the Matterhorn and Cervinia (It), will be operational on 1 July. Anyone who wants to cross the border from here will be able to sit comfortably with a backpack in a gondola in one country in the future and get off again in another country. Dressed as a tourist.

The federal government is planning this

The advantage of smuggling in the ski areas is obvious: At the border crossings on the road, permanent customs posts carry out random checks. These customs stations are missing at the border gates in the ski areas. The Federal Customs and Border Security Agency (BAZG) is aware of the risk. “The risk of smuggling is inherent in all cross-border transport,” Blick spokesperson Simon Erny tells us. According to Erny, it is impossible to say how often the ropeways are used for smuggling goods.

But smugglers shouldn’t celebrate too soon: there’s also the risk of being caught illegally transporting goods by cable car. As Erny confirms, BAZG will conduct random checks on the new cable car connection in Zermatt in the future. However, no details were disclosed for tactical reasons.

Austrians control skis

Cross-border ski areas such as 4Vallées on the Wallis-French border or Samnau/Ischgl on the Graubünden-Austrian border are also on BAZG’s radar screen. “BAZG always controls based on risk. Erny explains the basic procedure, executing risk-based controls means that they are performed where the greatest risk to internal security or potential violations of law is expected in terms of time, content and location. The Federal Office uses the same approach for cross-border train connections.

Samnaun GR is known across the border as a duty-free shopping paradise. Winter sports enthusiasts from Austria also have the opportunity to buy watches, jewellery, tobacco and perfumes duty-free at Graubünden. Problem: In the case of strong alcohol, the exemption limit in Austria is a maximum of 0.25 liters and a maximum of 25 cigarettes for tobacco products. In principle, the value of the goods should not exceed 300 euros. Austrian customs officers check winter sports enthusiasts in Ischgl on skis and find something almost every day in winter, according to officials from the Austrian broadcaster ORF.

Are ticket prices a deterrent in Zermatt?

Erny says BAZG regularly exchanges information with partner authorities at home and abroad. “There is no active cooperation with the Austrian authorities such as joint checks/patrols in the Ischgl-Samnaun area.”

The cable car connection from Zermatt to Italy during the New Year is another obstacle for smugglers. Thanks to high ticket prices, illegal transport should only be valuable for luxury goods. In the summer season, round trip costs 240 francs, one way 156 francs.

Source :Blick