Ladies & Gentlemen.

I'm a flying frequent over the past 10 years and have been traveling across all continents to more than 50 cities across the globe.

Especially these days I would like to strongly recommend you not to travel to Germany, especially cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich for the following reasons:

A) if you are European and purchased goods in Europe, but
B) you are traveling to Germany the customs will check randomly passengers
C) that have been traveling from overseas into Europe
D) if you cannot proof that goods (even clothes, shoes, cameras, watches, necklaces) have been used for several years / but you re-entered Europe, they might charge taxes from it. (without any reason).

I'm European living for over 8 years in Asia and the Middle East and it has been requested to take off my watch at the baggage area, than it has been claimed that I would have to pay taxes. (I'm not even German and only stayed for 4 nights in Germany, than again about to leave the European Union).

My colleague has been traveling from China to Russia, than entered (as non-European) Germany and has been locked into a room, claiming he would be a spy.

No responsibility and no response, even when proofing and having evidence that this has not been the case, they will still put your passport on record and you will be checked more often and frequently. (No matter you are in First-Class, Business-Class or Economy Class).

If you are European, living at overseas for more than 6 months and:

1) have residence permits as proof
2) police registrations
3) even government documents proofing all the same
4) they will not be interested in it

But I would personally strongly recommend to contact the customs divisions asking for more details, before re-entering Europe:

Telephone: 0049 (04) 61/5043-170
E-Mail: [email protected]
Or send a fax to: 0049 (04) 598 098

Recommendation how to avoid those robbers:

5) They especially focus on First and Business Class Passengers
6) because people in the customs maybe only earn 600-800 Euro per month
7) and they would like to drink one bottle of vinegar rather than appreciating that people travel to their country, spending money at there, or even use their airline company.

8) take your luggage and stay at the luggage carousel
9) keep an eye on the exit into the arrival hall
10) usually they are standing at there asking you if you can speak German
11) even you cannot speak German, they will continue in English
12) than they will pack your arm and say that you should open your luggage and do a "small routine check".

Let the others go first and let them be busy first, while they are investigating others, grab your luggage and run into the arrival hall, ignore everyone.

One thing you have to know:

13) the luggage carousel area is still their territory, but
14) once you reach the arrival hall the police will be responsible
15) just reach the line and exit as quick as you can

The problem about Germany:

16) they are all Germans, it's the same about the airline company
17) proud out of nowhere

German products and actions:

18) I'm going to sell my Mercedes and BMW out and
19) buy American products
20) stop purchasing German products and don't travel to Germany anymore
21) take all the money out of the European Union and ESPECIALLY from German banks

There is a person you may also be interested in contacting, he works for the Hamburg Tourism Board, [email protected].

It seems to me that Germany is trying to get money through this way and this every unprofessional.

Best regards
SQUALO