The Italian Guardia di Finanza has seized a collection of 5,402 Pokémon and One Piece trading cards in the Como region following customs irregularities. The operation took place near the Uggiate con Ronago border crossing, where officers from the Ponte Chiasso group stopped a vehicle arriving from Switzerland. During an inspection of several boxes found on the rear seat, authorities discovered the collection belonging to a driver residing in the province of Bergamo.
A significant discrepancy emerged regarding the value of the seized items. The vehicle's owner initially stated that the cards were worth just over €500. However, after verifying the condition and market status of the material, military officials estimated the total value at nearly €11,000. This higher valuation was attributed to the state of preservation; some cards remained in their original sealed packaging, while others had undergone professional grading, achieving maximum scores for their condition.
To determine the precise worth of the collection, officers analyzed the contents and consulted specialized online portals. The administrative seizure was executed because the cards were not declared at customs, resulting in unpaid duties and VAT. This incident highlights how high-value trading card collections can become the subject of legal scrutiny beyond simple gaming or collecting contexts when entering the country without proper declaration.
Sources: Everyeye.it.