Belarusian woman stopped by Polish customs officers when attempting to smuggle coral
At the Terespol checkpoint, when crossing the Belarusian-Polish border, Polish customs officers found a large piece of coral reef weighing more than 1.5 kg in the luggage of a Belarusian citizen. The woman did not consider it necessary to declare it, the press service of Polish Customs reports .
Photo: lubelskie.kas.gov.pl
Corals belong to endangered species, so they are protected under the international CITES convention. Special permits are required for their transport across the border, which the traveler did not have. She explained the violation by simple ignorance of the rules, but this does not exempt her from responsibility. As a result, criminal proceedings were initiated against the Belarusian woman.
Photo: lubelskie.kas.gov.pl
Customs officers remind that the import or export of rare species of animals and plants across the EU border is allowed only with appropriate documents issued by state authorities. Illegal transport of such species is considered a crime and can be punished with imprisonment from three months to five years.
The CITES Convention, signed in 1973, aims to protect rare species of animals and plants from extinction through international trade.
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