Customs inspection at airports: rights and obligations of passengers and customs officers
When crossing the customs border of Ukraine, the same rules apply, regardless of the chosen mode of travel - by road, rail, water transport or by plane. The only exception is the total cost of the transported goods. The main purpose of border control is to identify items prohibited for transportation.
Green and red corridors
Border crossing at airports has its own characteristics. Thus, passengers can individually choose any of the available options - along the "green" or "red" corridor.
The first option is simpler. This type of crossing is characterized by the absence of a declaration procedure and, at the same time, no customs duties are levied. In the second option, it will be necessary to go through customs control and verification of documents without fail. In addition, you will need to provide a completed customs declaration, pay duties.
The "green" corridor can be used when crossing the border with a small amount of money, modest amounts of food and goods of insignificant value. For example, the amount of currency in euros or a similar equivalent must be less than 10,000 euros, medicines - less than 5 packs, no more than 250 grams of tobacco or 1 block of tobacco products, etc.
It should be remembered that with this option, the passenger confirms the absence in the luggage of those items that are subject to mandatory declaration, taxation and items that are restricted for import into Ukraine or completely prohibited for import.
In other cases, the path lies through the "red" corridor.
The right to choose the type of control remains with the passenger, however, violation of the rules established by law will inevitably lead to administrative or criminal liability, and the baggage may be confiscated.
Passenger rights and obligations
The passenger has the right:
- ask for clarifications from the customs officials on the rules for the carriage of goods;
- choose a corridor for passing control;
- take a direct part in the procedure for inspecting your baggage;
- on the respectful attitude towards their person on the part of customs officials.
The passenger is obliged:
- meet the requirements of customs officials to provide information on the transported goods;
- present the necessary documentation for goods and baggage;
- in cases established by law, fill out a declaration;
- pay the necessary customs fees.
The rights and obligations of the customs officer
The customs officer has the right:
- inspect baggage;
- conduct a personal examination of citizens in exceptional cases stipulated by law;
- receive documents for transported items, goods, currency;
- require the passenger to complete the customs declaration;
- refuse to allow citizens to cross the border;
- refuse to register the transported goods in case of violation of the rules of transportation;
- if citizens do not have documents that confirm the value of goods, independently determine their customs value.
The customs officer is obliged:
- explain, to the extent of their competence, the rules for crossing the border and moving goods;
- show a high culture of communication, be self-possessed and tactful;
- control the filling of declarations by passengers;
- in case of refusal to pass through the border or refusal in customs clearance, issue a duly executed written notification to the passenger.
Personal screening of passengers
Personal inspection is carried out in exceptional cases, if the customs officer has sufficiently substantiated grounds to suspect that the passenger has concealed items, valuables, currency or contraband. Inspection is carried out only with the written approval of the head of customs.
Citizens over 16 years old with the participation or with the consent of his parents (accompanying persons) are subject to personal examination. A doctor must be involved in the examination of the organs of the body.
The examination is carried out in closed, isolated rooms, intimate circumstances with a personal review are not subject to disclosure. It is prohibited to inspect several persons at the same time in the same room.
Before the start of the procedure, the passenger is asked to give out voluntarily hidden valuables and objects. If the passenger voluntarily presented the hidden object and there is no reason to believe that the citizen has any other hidden objects, the customs officer may limit himself to delaying what was issued on a voluntary basis, with a detailed list recorded in the protocol.
The inspection is carried out by a customs officer with the obligatory involvement of 2 attesting witnesses of the same sex as the person being examined. If the customs officer is absent, the inspection is carried out by another official responsible for departmental control. The inspection procedure may involve employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, border troops, and the SBU.
Personal inspection, drawn up by a protocol in accordance with the approved form, must be registered and signed by a customs officer, a doctor (when examining organs) and a passenger. If the passenger refuses to sign it, then the signatures of the persons participating in the inspection are affixed in the protocol.
During the inspection, technical means of audio and video recording of results may be used.
A passenger can appeal against the actions of customs officers directly to the head of customs, and his decision, respectively, to the chairman of the state customs service. If the actions of these persons are recognized as unlawful, the losses caused to the citizen are compensated in the manner prescribed by law.