Лекция: ON SMUGGLING

In accordance with the Customs Regulations one of the main duties of the Customs officer is to preventtraffic of smuggling. Smuggled goods can enter the country together with passengers, cargo, or with means of conveyance.

The unlawful bringing in or taking out of the country of such articles as currency, bonds, jewelleries, precious metals and stones, antiques, explosives, drugs, weapons, firearms and ammunition, etc., is considered smuggling (contraband).

In some cases the above articles carried in/out are declared, but the value and/or the number or the description of the articles are stated false. Such actions are also considered illegal.

Storage and/or sale of smuggled articles on the territory of the country is forbidden by law.

A person who is found guiltyof smuggling may be taken to Court and either punished by a fine or jailed. Smuggled articles are seized (confiscated).

The methods of smuggling are becoming more and more sophisticated, so the Customs Service has to develop more effective ways of detecting contraband, but there is no substitute for a well-trained and experienced Customs officer.

The Customs officer is entitled to rummage every piece of baggage, and if he has a reason to believe that the person is carrying about himself objects liable to confiscation he may even search the person. The search can be made only with the

permitof the Customs Office Chief. The search is carried out in the presence of two witnesses and a list of all things seized is to be made. The protocol of the search is to be signed by the officer-in-charge, two witnesses and the person accused.

The person accused has the right to appeal within ten days.

The decision of the Court is finaland binding.