A man in his 60s was initially caught in January when guards at the Chêne-Bourg border crossing in Geneva discovered 165 kilograms of chicken meat and 20 kilograms of beef that had not been declared for duties, the Federal Customs Administration (FCA) said in a release on Tuesday.
A month-long investigation led investigators to the man’s 31-year-old son, who operated a “food truck” catering operation, using the illegally imported food and drink, Alain Hussin, a spokesman for the FCA’s anti-fraud section told 20 Minutes newspaper.
A search of the son’s home in Fribourg uncovered documents showing that in the month of December 2014 alone he imported more than 500 kilograms of undeclared merchandise, including 100 kilograms of meat and a large quantity of beverages.
The search also uncovered the pot plants, an issue that was referred to Fribourg cantonal police.
The young man has admitted to the illegal importation of food and drink, the FCA said.
The father and son have been ordered to pay several thousand francs in duties and were also assessed steep fines.
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