Passenger attempted to bring more than 380 packs of cigarettes from Sharm El Sheikh to Riga 0 14

On Friday, February 13, customs officers at Riga Airport conducted checks of passengers and their luggage on the Sharm El Sheikh – Riga flight. One of the passengers, who was traveling through the "green corridor," was invited for inspection, thereby confirming that he had no goods subject to declaration or goods whose import across the customs border is prohibited or restricted.

When asked if there were cigarettes in his luggage, the passenger — a citizen of Estonia — answered negatively. However, during a thorough inspection, 382 packs of "Golden Gate" and "Oris" cigarettes were found in his luggage, totaling 7,640 cigarettes.

Establishing signs of a criminal offense, the case materials were transferred to the Tax and Customs Police, where a criminal process was initiated under the first part of Article 190 of the Criminal Law — "Smuggling." In cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office for Tax and Customs Affairs, the criminal process was sent the same day for the initiation of criminal prosecution in an expedited manner.

The State Revenue Service (SRS) reminds that when traveling by air, a person is entitled to import into Latvia for personal use from third countries, excluding Russia and Belarus, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco, tobacco leaves, or heated tobacco without paying taxes.

When importing tobacco products more than once every 30 days or in quantities exceeding the allowed duty-free limit, the goods are subject to mandatory declaration and tax payment. If a person fails to fulfill the declaration obligation and attempts to import goods without presenting them to the customs authority, such actions (non-declaration of goods) are subject to administrative liability in accordance with the Customs Law. Illegal importation of goods in significant volumes is subject to criminal liability under Article 190 of the Criminal Law "Smuggling."

If there are goods subject to declaration in the luggage, it is necessary to go through the "red corridor" when crossing the border. The "green corridor" is used in the absence of declarable goods or if the goods in the traveler's luggage are in such quantities that do not require tax payment.