Control at the border

Smuggling with illegal firecrackers is flourishing

During a spot check, explosives expert Markus Kreilmeier seized fireworks en masse.(Bild: Christoph Gantner)

New Year's Eve is approaching - and smuggling tourism between the Czech Republic and Upper Austria is booming again. During a priority check on Sunday in the Mühlviertel region, the police filled two and a half VW vans with seized illegal fireworks.

Every year, the police check at the Mühlviertel border crossings to see whether compatriots are bringing category F3 and F4 fireworks into Upper Austria without permission. On Sunday, the yield at a check in Weigetschlag was again high: within four hours, two and a half VW vans were filled with "hot goods".

Many young smugglers
According to explosives expert Markus Kreilmeier, the smugglers are mainly young people from all over the state, but predominantly from urban areas. The district inspector can only shake his head at their behavior: "You can see when you leave the country that we are standing there and checking. Nevertheless, people come with a trunk full of fireworks and still complain."

Anyone caught not only loses their rockets, but also has to "burn" themselves: A fine of up to 3000 euros is due.