ARMENIA’S CUSTOMS OFFICERS CONFISCATE 150 TONS OF CITRUSES, CEREALS ILLEGALLY IMPORTED FROM GEORGIA

ARKA News Agency
Dec 21 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, December 21. /ARKA/. Officers of the Anti-Smuggling Department
of the RA Customs Service have confiscated over 159 tons of citruses
and cereals illegally imported from Georgia fro the past ten days,
the Press Service of the RA Customs Service reports.

54 cases of smuggling were revealed in Armenia in the reporting
period. 36 cases of smuggling were revealed in Tbilisi-Yerevan trains,
where Anti-Smuggling Department’s officers confiscated oranges,
mandarins, persimmons, cereals and nuts hidden both by passengers
and conductors.

Another 16 cases of smuggling were revealed in Bagratashen Customs
Office and on the Armenian-Georgian borderline with no check points.

Smugglers attempted to carry mandarins and persimmons across the
river Debed, evading Georgian customs officers.

According to the RA Customs Service, Armenian customs officers have
confiscated smuggled Turkish citruses and nuts sold in the Malatia
fair in Yerevan. The tenants of pavilions had no customs documents.

The RA Tax Service warns that cases of smuggling have become more
frequent before holidays. In this connection, the Anti-Smuggling
Department is carrying out everyday control in all the check-points.

99 cases of smuggling were recorded in Armenia this year. 100 kg of
black and red caviar were confiscated in 2007, the RA Customs Service
reports.