Ok, gang, let's try to focus here.
This is in all likelyhood NOT an MR issue. I am willing to bet that MR are completely in the dark about all of this (and we can't honestly expect them to see every thread in the forum), so let's not slam them for not chiming in here right away. (They would do well to reply to e-mails some of you have sent though.)
I am still thinking this is about overzealous Customs officials (and German LFL lawyers) without full knowledge of EU regulations. I have been scouring Swedish DVD forums (and EU info sites) today for clues about this. There have been lots and lots of discussions about DVD shops having to close down or change their business practices because they sell Region 1 DVDs without a licence/permission. In all these discussions, it was made clear that if you buy them yourself from a retailer, you're free to import them as you wish.
I don't have any "official" law book quotes yet, but it is becomeing VERY clear to me that if you import for private use, as an individual, they CANNOT CONFISCATE your merchandise under "parallell import laws". They apply ONLY if you intend to conduct business (resale) with the imported products.
I'm still waiting to see some official document about this, but unless Germany has some form of exception to EUs import regulations in this regard, then customs in all likelyhood had NO RIGHT to take those sabers and you should be able to challenge them.
Oh, and Tim, if you feel that I'm sticking my nose too far into your business here, please let me know. I'm just feeling some solidarity and afraid that this could damage the hobby for us all.