Stopped car with gold worth NOK 9 million – NRK Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio

– We in the Kongsvinger area have never had a similar case involving the seizure of pure gold, says section head Kjersti Bråthen at the Customs Office in Kongsvinger to NRK.

On 24 February, customs officials stopped a German-registered car.

The car drove over the border crossing at Kjerret in Kongsvinger municipality.

The Customs Service reacted to this, and therefore stopped the car.

– It is a minor border crossing. There is no normal place to pass for those who come from afar, she says.

It was Glåmdalen who mentioned the case first.

Kongsvinger has 28 transitions that they are responsible for controlling.

– At this transition, it is common for local people to cross the border, she says.

Had to pay over NOK 2 million

A man in his 60s from Germany was behind the wheel.

In the trunk there was great value.

– We found over 11 kilograms of gold bars in the car.

The man claims it is his fortune. Bråthen says the gold bars have a value of over NOK 9 million.

Gold must be cleared when imported into Norway, she explains.

– There is 25 per cent VAT on gold imported to Norway, and these goods were then not subject to customs duty.

He must have paid NOK 2.26 million in VAT, she says.

Reported to the police

The customs officer wrote a customs report and reported the smuggling to the police.

– It is a rather serious smuggling of goods, says Bråthen.

Police Superintendent Rune Bekkemoen at Kongsvinger police station tells Glåmdalen that the case has been forwarded to the Økocrim unit in the Innlandet police district for further follow-up.

NRK has tried to get a comment from ecocrime.