Authorities preparing new surprise for shuttle traders

An article will be introduced into the criminal code, which will strike cross-border business.

It was decided to add a new article into Belarusian Criminal Code. Soon the article 228-1 will be added “Transporting goods across the border of the Customs Union outside the legislatively defined place or times”.

Respective suggestion has already been submitted to the House of Representatives signed by Lukashenka, Narodnaja Vola reports.

It is yet hard to tell, whether the suggested punishment measure will be applied to those, who try to go through the Green Channel with goods, but one should get alert. In the case the action is done by an organized group, the punishment may be up to seven years in prison. There is a softer approach to individuals: if a person was not previously convicted – up to two years, if convicted – up to three.

It is worth pointing out that the punishment for smuggling has long been established in the Criminal Code. However, it was previously only the matter of objects and valuables, forbidden to be imported into Belarus or with imports restrictions, and also of large consignment stocks worth of 2000 basic units. The new article of the criminal code will be even applied to people, rafting couple blocks of cigarettes to Lithuania or Poland.