Scandal in Weil am Rhein: 20 unkooled lambs discovered in the car!

Scandal in Weil am Rhein: 20 unkooled lambs discovered in the car!

In a surprising incident in Weil am Rhein, Lörrach district, customs officials checked a larger car on July 15, 2025 and discovered 20 slaughtered and uncooled lambs. The 41-year-old driver had stated that he wanted to deliver the lambs to a business, but his project was a clear violation of food law regulations. The means of transport was not suitable for the safe transportation of the animals, such as [Stuttgarter Nachrichten] (https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt. reported.

The customs officials acted quickly and accommodated the lambs in a refrigerator room of the customs office in order to protect the perishable goods from great damage. Ultimately, the driver had to properly dispose of and destroy the lambs by a specialized company. Further measures are now in preparation at the responsible district office.

smuggling of meat in the region

This incident is part of a major problem that has been emerging in recent years in connection with meat smuggling in the Basel region. The Swiss customs have been illegally introduced in the past five years, which led to customs fees of around 15 million euros. Traffic traffic is the focus of these smuggling activities, with meat often transported across the border in private vehicles or small delivery vans. According to SWR, this meat is sold in Switzerland at higher prices, which the smuggler attracts financially.

The prices for meat in Switzerland are exorbitant compared to Germany. For example, a 250 gram pork steak in Switzerland costs around CHF 7.60, while it only costs around CHF 3 in Germany. This means that professional smugglers are increasingly at work. As a rule, these gangs work well organized and use various transport methods to pursue their illegal business. For example, Swiss customs had to be confiscated in 2023 22 slaughtered lambs that were transported unkapped and unpacked in the trunk of a car, as BAZG.

health risks from smuggling goods

A problem that should not be underestimated are the health risks associated with the smuggling of unkapped meat. Interrupted cold chains can lead to germs multiplying, which is a serious danger to consumers. For this reason, the unauthorized practices of the smugglers are not only a legal, but also a health risk. Despite the tighter controls, the smuggling of meat remains lucrative, and the high fines as well as possible prison terms for the smugglers do not seem to deter them.

These incidents illustrate how important close cooperation between the customs authorities and other places is to combat the smuggling and protect consumers. As we have seen, a lot is still being done in the Basel region to combat meat smuggling, and the authorities are doing everything they can to break through the illegal structures.