Cannabis seized at Zittau border – investigation

On July 10, 2026, at around 7:20 p.m., a Federal Police operation took place at the border crossing on Zittau's Friedensstraße. A 29-year-old German driver entered the Federal Republic from Poland and was found by officers of the Federal Police Inspection Ebersbach carrying cannabis products. The check led to the seizure of approximately five grams of marijuana and about five grams of hashish. Customs subsequently initiated an investigation for a violation of the Cannabis Consumption Act. The Federal Police released the details in a press statement.

Zittau is located in the Görlitz district of Saxony and forms an important traffic hub at the Polish border. Friedensstraße leads directly to the border crossing, where vehicles from the neighboring country are regularly checked. For the Federal Police, such border controls are part of daily duties, especially when it comes to smuggling narcotics and other border offenses. This case shows that even small quantities upon entry can lead to criminal consequences.

Check at the Friedensstraße border crossing

On the evening of July 10, 2026, the 29-year-old driver passed the border crossing on Zittau's Friedensstraße. He came from the direction of Poland and was subjected to a check as part of the Federal Police's regular border control activities. During the check, officers found that the man was carrying cannabis products. Specifically, this involved approximately five grams of marijuana and about five grams of hashish.

The discovery was made within the jurisdiction of the Federal Police Inspection Ebersbach, which is responsible for border protection and police control at crossings in the region. Border officers are trained to identify suspicious transports and violations of customs and narcotics regulations at an early stage. In this case, the discovery of the small quantities was sufficient to initiate immediate measures.

Legal classification: domestic versus border crossing

A central aspect of the case concerns the different legal treatment of cannabis within Germany and when crossing the border from abroad. Since the partial legalization of consumption cannabis under the Cannabis Consumption Act, certain rules apply domestically for possession and cultivation in private settings. However, these permissions explicitly do not apply to cross-border traffic.

Cannabis products imported from abroad may not be brought across the border under current law – regardless of whether they involve small quantities for personal use. Anyone entering from Poland or another neighboring country with marijuana or hashish is therefore operating in the area of criminal and regulatory law, even if comparable possession quantities may be permitted domestically under certain conditions. The Federal Police explicitly pointed out this difference in its report.

Seizure of narcotics

The narcotics found were seized by the officers on duty. Marijuana and hashish are products of the cannabis plant and are subject to different legal regulations in Germany depending on the context. However, stricter border traffic regulations apply upon entry from abroad. The seized substances serve as evidence in the further proceedings and are stored accordingly.

The quantities of approximately five grams each are small but are nevertheless fully documented and handed over to the responsible authority. In practice, even small finds during border controls can lead to investigations, as the illegal cross-border transport of cannabis products is generally prosecuted regardless of quantity.

Investigation by customs

After the seizure, customs took over further processing of the case. An investigation was initiated against the 29-year-old driver for violating the Cannabis Consumption Act. The law has regulated the legal framework for consumption cannabis in Germany since 2024 but explicitly excludes import from abroad. Violations can be punished with fines, criminal proceedings, or other sanctions.

Cooperation between the Federal Police and customs is established at border crossings and is essential for effectively combating smuggling and illegal imports. While the Federal Police carries out the immediate check and discovery, customs continues the fiscal and criminal investigations in the area of border offenses. Public prosecutor's offices decide on the further course of proceedings after investigations are completed.

The Zittau-Friedensstraße border crossing is part of a heavily used corridor between Saxony and the Polish neighboring country. Police and customs regularly check person and goods traffic there. Cases involving found narcotics are part of continuous border surveillance and demonstrate that strict controls continue at the border even after the reform of cannabis consumption domestically.

Federal Police Inspection Ebersbach

The Federal Police Inspection Ebersbach was responsible for the operation. The inspection belongs to the Federal Police Directorate Pirna and is responsible for border protection as well as station and rail facility controls in Upper Lusatia. Press inquiries about the incident should be directed to press spokesman Alfred Klaner, reachable at telephone number 03586-7602245 or by email at bpoli.ebersbach.oea@polizei.bund.de.

The report was published via the press portal and documents another case in the area of cross-border drug crime at the German-Polish border. Even though the seized quantities were comparatively small, the incident underscores the importance of border controls for enforcing current cannabis consumption law and distinguishing between permitted domestic possession and prohibited border traffic.