a bus driver from Mongolia tried to hide 1,150 packs of cigarettes from customs control when entering Russia. The illegally transported goods were discovered by Buryat customs officers at the Kyakhta IACP.
When entering the checkpoint, the driver submitted documents for the vehicle and declared the absence of goods subject to declaration. However, during customs inspection with the help of a mobile inspection and examination complex, customs officers revealed goods hidden in the ventilation system in the bus cabin.
According to the offender, he imported cigarettes for commercial purposes – for sale in Russia, therefore tried to hide the goods from customs control. He was aware of the rules of movement of goods and the need to declare them, in case of exceeding the amount allowed by law. He prepared for the trip in advance: he dismantled the ventilation system above the passenger seats and hid 115 blocks of cigarettes there.
As explained by the head of the customs post of MAPP Kyakhta Vrezh Tatevosyan, in accordance with the customs legislation of the EAEU, a citizen who has reached the age of 18 years, for personal use can import into the customs territory of the EAEU member states – not more than 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 200 products with heated tobacco («sticks»), or 250 g of tobacco or products in the assortment with a total weight of not more than 250 g.
Buryat customs officers seized the cigarettes and placed them in the storage chamber of the customs material evidence. In respect of the Mongolian citizen the customs officers initiated a case of administrative offense under part 2 of article 16.1 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (concealment of goods from customs control).
Evgenia Kurbatova,
press secretary of the Buryat Customs,
Kurbatovaeg@dvtu.customs.gov.ru, 8 (3012) 289 078