Vyborg customs point closed temporarily because of illegal imports

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Following the discovery of a large contraband consignment made by the Russian Customs in Vyborg, the Vyborg customs point has been temporarily closed down until further notice.
      Attempts were made to import into Russia 22 truckloads of clothes and shoes made in Turkey and Southeastern Asia. The loads were transported to Russia through Finland and Estonia.
     
The consignments had been imported under the wrong customs tariff headings in order to reduce the customs tariffs.
      The trucks were claimed to carry paper bags, leaflets, rubber gloves, and zip fasteners. Incidentally, the value of the consignment was more than EUR 7 million.
      According to Russia’s North-West Customs Administration, the clothes and shoes were on their way to St.Petersburg and Moscow, where they were to be sold in market squares.
     
The Finnish dairy cooperative Valio and the other major importers who use the customs terminal in Vyborg are already suffering from the closure.
      ”Some of our trucks remained stuck in the customs in Vyborg”, said export manager Ari Ahonen from Valio. However, the customs has already released the trucks by now.
      Valio transferred its deliveries to the St. Petersburg Customs point in Piskarevsky.
      ”Delivery times will be one day longer”, Ahonen noted. Previously all Valio’s shipments arrived at their destinations in one day, with the exception of Moscow, where deliveries were made in two days.
      Nevertheless, Ahonen says that Valio has not been forced to cancel any consignments.
     
The Vyborg customs point will remain closed until the contraband goods have been checked.
      The role of the personnel will also be looked into.
      This was the first occasion on which the Vyborg customs point was completely shut down. About 50 employees were temporarily dismissed.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Trucks of nearly 20 Finnish hauliers ordered to be escorted to destinations in Russia (30.9.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat