Over 450 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metal seized from smugglers in the Vitebsk region in 6 months

July 29, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. In the Vitebsk region, over 450 tons of ferrous and non-ferrous metals were seized from illegal circulation in January-June, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Directorate's Economic Crimes Unit (UBEP) informed a BELTA correspondent. The total value of the goods amounted to about Br208 million. 146 citizens were detained for attempting to illegally export metal abroad. In addition, during operational-search activities, law enforcement officers identified and suppressed the activities of over 15 illegal scrap metal collection points. The main direction for smuggling is Russia, where purchase prices are several times higher than those established in Belarus. At the same time, countering the illegal export of metal has become more effective with the tightening of sanctions in February of this year by the Code of Administrative Offenses of Belarus for illegal entrepreneurial activity, the department emphasized. Now, in addition to a fine of up to 100 base units and confiscation of income, the court has the right to seize the vehicle used to transport the metal from illegal carriers. To implement this provision of the law, close cooperation has been established between the Internal Affairs Directorate and the Vitebsk Regional Inspectorate of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties. In four months - from March to June - employees of this structure drew up 21 administrative protocols based on materials from the internal affairs bodies. 11 vehicles were seized, and two cars were confiscated by the Economic Court of the Vitebsk Region. -0-