Swiss customs authorities have discovered an antique Japanese samurai sword made nearly 700 years ago, after it was smuggled into the country. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security said the katana sword, dated to 1353 and valued at €650,000 (£550,000), was found in a car with Swiss plates during a routine search near Zurich. The driver, accompanied by his daughter, had not registered the objects at the Thayngen border crossing from Germany, officials said. Following the investigation, regional authorities imposed fines of more than 6,000 Swiss francs (£4,960) on the employer. The customs authorities said they had collected nearly 54,000 Swiss francs in VAT from the driver, who faced up to 800,000 francs in further fines.
