Customs Day of Belarus

For 2006. 9536 violations of the legislation in the field of customsOn September 20, Customs Day is celebrated in Belarus. Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus A Shpilevsky said at a press conference at the National Press Center, “Having established this holiday in 1996, the state emphasized the importance of the customs profession and the contribution of the customs service to the socio-economic development of the country.”

Evaluating the work of Belarusian customs officers, he noted that for 8 months of 2006, 9536 violations of the legislation in the field of customs were identified and suppressed.

Head of the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Administrative Offences of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus A. Mikhalkevich noted that 25 criminal cases were initiated on the facts of smuggling and evasion of customs payments. According to him, suppressed 28 attempts to smuggle narcotic drugs, psychotropic and other substances.

The press conference participants also discussed the standard of customs officer. In particular, Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Belarus V. Goshin stressed that “an ideal customs officer will appear when, in addition to work aimed at eliminating arbitrariness, the legislative framework will be improved and everyone will know their rights and obligations.”

In the near future it is planned to create the so-called operational customs. “However, we are already capable of alerting personnel within two hours. In addition to the simplification of customs formalities, new effective forms of customs control are being introduced.”