Vitebsk customs officers seized a batch of contraband worth almost Br5.5 billion.
Vitebsk customs officers inspected 1228 cardboard boxes and found contraband worth almost Br5.5 billion inside, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by customs officials. In the "Urbany" international checkpoint on the Belarusian-Latvian border, a citizen of Belarus presented a Volvo truck for customs clearance. The vehicle was en route from Latvia to the Russian Federation carrying power supplies, locks, push-button switches, capacitors, speakers, scissors, and other goods totaling approximately 104,000 units, packed in 1228 boxes.
The total weight of the goods exceeded 13 tons. However, customs officers had grounds for conducting additional customs control operations: they received information about a possible violation of customs legislation. To inspect all these goods, they had to be unloaded, all 1228 cardboard boxes opened, and then everything inside counted. As a result, goods not indicated in the transport and commercial documents were discovered: a biometric terminal, radio components, cuticle nippers, and manicure tools. In total, approximately 1.7 million units of goods with a total value of almost Br5.5 billion were found.
The submission of documents containing false information about the name and quantity of goods served as grounds for their seizure. The Vitebsk customs is conducting an administrative process under Part 5 of Article 14.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus.