A woman was caught carrying 90kg of the viral Dubai chocolate through an airport in Germany last month, and now faces an investigation and hundreds of euros in import duties.
Customs officials at Hamburg Airport seized 460 chocolate bars from the woman, which she had spread out across three suitcases, reported Reuters, and failed to declare it upon arrival.
The 33-year-old passenger was not arrested, but will be investigated on possible charges of tax evasion. The Internet-famous treat features a combination of pistachio cream and knafeh - a crispy filo dough used to make the dessert baklava - encased in milk chocolate. It went viral after TikTok food influencer Maria Vehera shared a video of herself eating it in 2023.
Officials believed the confiscated bars were intended to be sold commercially, due to the sheer number imported. They did not state which brand they were from, but were valued at around €2,100 (£1,759). A spokesperson for German customs said the woman told police she paid around €4.60 (£3.85) for each 200g bar.
The packaging also failed to display any ingredients or allergen information, meaning they posed a health risk to customers.
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The customs office added in a statement: "In addition to the potential tax evasion for the evaded import duties of over €330 (£276), customs in this case is primarily concerned with protecting the health of citizens in Germany."
Dubai chocolate was invented by Dubai-based British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda in 2021, inspired by cravings she had during pregnancy, while wanting more than a "typical" chocolate fix.
The authentic bar, sold by her brand Fix Dessert Chocolatier, is fittingly named "Can't Get Knafeh of It" is available exclusively in Dubai.
However, copycat versions have appeared globally. Last year, Swiss brand Lindt released a limited 1,000 bars in shops in Germany, with people queuing for hours to buy a single bar.
Speaking to CNN in 2024, Sarah said: “We take a lot of time and effort, and put a lot of love into our bars. We want to create an experience.”
The demand has increased rapidly, helped by social media influencers. Fix has gone from receiving six orders a day to around 100 a minute in Dubai alone.
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