Vitsebsk customs instituted an administrative process for the detention of 103 kg of powdered ceramic catalysts, containing precious metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium. The load, disguised as mortars, was carried by a citizen of Lithuania to Latvia. The seized metal quantity is estimated of more than $50 thousand on the black market, the SCC said.
As it became known to Telegraf in 2010, customs officials detained several large consignments of ferrous, nonferrous metals and scrap, illegally exported outside of Belarus by persons without cargo documents and the source of its receipt.
Decree № 298 of the President of Belarus of June 13, 2002 defined business entities with the exclusive right to export scrap of ferrous and nonferrous metals. Above mentioned individuals had no such a right.
In this case, 17 parties of the scrap metal, illegally exported from Belarus, were detained in Cherykau and Krasnapolle areas of Mahileu voblast in recent months, the SCC told.
As a part of special joint operations, department of Mahileu Customs for smuggling combating in conjunction with traffic police and state security bodies detained three trucks bound for Russia on the outskirts of Cherykau. Belarusian citizens without documents were transporting 83.8 tons of scrap ferrous and nonferrous metals by car.
During further investigation, another six heavy-duty trucks, carrying a total of 126 tons of ferrous and nonferrous metals for export to Russia, were delayed. There were no transportation documents as well.
Customs officers prevented 42 attempts to illegally export 542 tons of ferrous and nonferrous metals over ten months of 2010. 34 offenders were brought to administrative responsibility and were fined more than Br16 million, the SCC noted.
