Lithuania tightens cargo control at border
Lithuania is strengthening control of freight transport at the border so as not to violate European sanctions, RIA Novosti reports
This information was provided by the press service of the Lithuanian customs department, “The Lithuanian customs, providing control over the implementation of EU sanctions, strengthens customs inspection procedures. For this purpose, it is possible to use the help of analytical forces, as well as activate the methods of physical verification. It is planned to involve a larger number of customs officers in the verification process, if necessary, employees of other state institutions will be invited to help them.”
It is noted that the goods, ‘the senders, recipients, carriers and customs intermediaries of which have already tried to circumvent the sanctions’, will be considered ‘particularly risky’ and will be checked ‘especially carefully’.
“We see that the number of attempts to circumvent sanctions is not decreasing, so we are taking additional measures. Those customs clients who, due to attempts to circumvent sanctions, were not allowed to continue customs procedures, should not be surprised if in the future the goods they transport are under a magnifying glass,” Darius Zvironas, Director General of Lithuanian Customs, is quoted in the message.
The department provided the following data: since March 1st, 2022, more than 3,000 times ‘due to various violations, import, export and transit procedures were not allowed’, 30 investigations were launched due to a possible violation of sanctions restrictions.
“Due to established violations, more than 1,200 transport vehicles registered in Russia and Belarus were not allowed to enter the EU territory,” the press service explained.
