On 5 October 2026, customs officers at Minsk National Airport detected a passenger attempting to cross the customs border with a large sum of undeclared foreign currency exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 USD. Under the EAEU Customs Code Article 263 and the Belarusian Law on Currency Regulation, individuals must declare cash and monetary instruments exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 USD when entering or leaving the EAEU customs territory. The undeclared funds were seized pending investigation, and the passenger faces administrative liability under Article 16.11 of the Administrative Offenses Code (fine up to 30% of the undeclared amount) and possible criminal prosecution under Article 228 of the Criminal Code for smuggling of currency.
Key Takeaways
- Declaration Threshold: The 10,000 USD equivalent threshold applies to all currencies combined; travelers must complete a passenger customs declaration form (Form TD-1) before crossing the red corridor.
- Enforcement Tools: Customs uses currency detection dogs, X-ray baggage scanners, and intelligence profiling to identify high-risk passengers.
- Legal Consequences: Failure to declare can result in fines up to 30% of the undeclared amount, confiscation of the entire sum, and criminal penalties including imprisonment up to 7 years for large-scale smuggling.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.
Source: Read Official Announcement