Tajikistan toughened penalties for smugglers

Almaty. November 10. Silkroadnews – Tajikistan has toughened penalties for smugglers, Tajik Telegraph Agency (TajikTA) reported on Thursday.

Deputies of the Tajik parliament have introduced amendments to the code of administrative offences in regard to the smuggling of goods.

According to the approved amendments, from now forward the individuals that brought contraband goods are to be fined an amount twice higher compared to the cost of goods brought. Earlier the fine did not exceed the cost of all the goods in case.

The vehicle used to bring the contraband cargo will be confiscated in favor of the state, the amendments state.

Contraband of goods into Tajikistan is mainly carried out from the territory of neighboring Kyrgyzstan, and the outstanding issues related to the delimitation and demarcation of state borders line between the two states contribute to such a state of affairs.

Only in September customs officers revealed 201 cases of smuggling of goods into the country to the total amount of 4 million 330 thousand somoni ($550.1 thousand).