OREANDA-NEWS. June 03, 2009. Cooperation with customs services of the neighbouring countries will be discussed at a seminar of the State Customs Committee of Belarus in Mozyr on June 3-5, the SCC press service said. Representatives of customs bodies of Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania are expected to participate in the seminar.

The seminar will also table results and goals of law enforcement activities of Belarus’ customs bodies in 2009. Participants of the meeting will discuss enhancement of cooperation and information sharing with foreign colleagues, will share practices used to detect contraband and administrative violations during border crossings and will determine the work layout for H2 2009.

BelTA has been told, the Customs has lately seen a rise in smuggled drugs and illegal import of foreign goods, with no customs duties paid and in violation of the established economic policy measures. Thanks to the effective operation of law-enforcement bodies over the five months of the year 8,029 violations of customs regulations have been detected and suppressed, with 33 criminal cases and 7,996 administrative cases filed.

“Undoubtedly, considerable results in preventing administrative violations can be achieved through tight cooperation with foreign colleagues,” stressed the source. “Due to the fact the participation of representatives of the customs services of the neighbouring countries will be another step in uniting the efforts aimed at counteracting commercial frauds and transboundary crimes”.