Increased withdrawal of Belarusian currency observed at Polish customs
In the first half of 2025, there has been a significant increase in attempts to illegally smuggle currency across the Polish border at the Brest Customs Office. According to the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Belarus, over 420 cases of illegal currency movement have been detected, marking a 67% increase from the entirety of 2024.
Despite this surge, there are no publicly available detailed statistics or reports specifically indicating how these attempts have changed compared to previous years at this location. The search results do not contain direct quantitative data or trend analysis on currency smuggling at the Brest Customs Office for 2025.
However, related insights suggest that migration and smuggling remain complex issues in the broader EU context, with various ministerial declarations emphasizing ongoing challenges in combating illegal activities. These declarations, however, focus mainly on migration and human smuggling rather than currency smuggling.
Reports also mention changes in smuggling trends for items like cigarettes in Ukraine since 2022 but do not cover currency smuggling or specifically the Brest border crossing.
The Brest Customs Office, a key border control point, likely continues to respond to organized crime activities. However, specific data on currency smuggling increases or decreases at this location are not cited in available public documents up to August 2025.
One such instance of illegal currency movement was reported in July, where a Ukrainian citizen failed to declare $16,000 and €9,400 at the "Brest" checkpoint. The violator was fined Br210 and lost the amount that exceeded $10,000.
Customs officers continue to remind travelers about the rules for declaring large sums. Last month alone, 154 violators were held accountable for trying to circumvent the law by distributing large sums among fellow travelers.
Violators often claim ignorance of the law despite the presence of information stands and warnings from customs officers. For amounts exceeding $100,000, documents proving the origin of the funds are required. Failure to declare a sum exceeding $10,000 incurs a fine of 5-30 basic units.
Illegal movement of more than $30,000 may result in criminal liability of up to five years imprisonment. Part 2 of Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus applies to illegal currency movement.
The rules for transporting goods and currency before crossing the border remain in effect. Customs officers warn about the rules for transporting goods and currency before crossing the border. Information stands at all checkpoints continue to provide information about customs regulations.
The SCC's report of a significant increase in attempts to illegally smuggle currency across the Polish border at the Brest Customs Office serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts required to combat such illegal activities.
Despite the increase in currency smuggling incidents at the Brest Customs Office, specific statistics or reports detailing the comparison to previous years are not publicly available. However, the general-news section often highlights ongoing challenges in the industry and finance realm, particularly in the context of crime and justice.
