Smuggled Goods, Valued at 200,000 Rubles, Attempted to Enter Belarus As Personal Items
In a recent development, Belarusian customs officers have uncovered two schemes for illegally importing European goods into Russia. The goods in both schemes were imported into the EAEU by different individuals in small quantities, disguised as personal belongings.
In the first scheme, a 40-year-old individual entrepreneur traveling from Brest to Russia in a minibus was found with over 110 units of European goods worth over 170,000 rubles. The goods included high-pressure washers, vacuum cleaners, baby strollers and car seats, grills, electric kettles, and various kitchenware.
A similar scheme was discovered involving a Russian transporter attempting to export 24 units of equipment worth over 35,000 rubles to Russia in a semi-trailer. The goods in the second scheme included steam cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and high-pressure washers.
Instead of declaring the commercial batch of goods, the entrepreneur and the transporter attempted to smuggle them in as multiple small batches disguised as personal belongings. Administrative proceedings have been initiated for the illegal movement of goods at the Belarus-Russia border.
Significant fines are imposed for violators, ranging from 1,260 rubles for individuals to 21,000 rubles for legal entities. The confiscation of goods and vehicles used for their transportation is also a possible penalty.
It's worth noting that while specific data on disguising goods as personal belongings is not available from the results, smuggling-related crimes including drugs and humans are actively prosecuted with lengthy prison sentences and asset seizures in the region. Given Belarus’s strict enforcement policies on smuggling and border control, similar or severe penalties likely apply.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat illegal import schemes and the importance of adhering to customs regulations. For detailed legal penalties specific to Belarus under customs and smuggling laws, consulting Belarusian national legal texts or official government sources is recommended.
The journalist reporting on this matter is Mikhail Svetlov.
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