Customs officers at the Brest border crossing uncovered an attempt to illegally export a large collection of antique banknotes. The offender was a 37-year-old Belarusian, the driver of a scheduled Brest–Warsaw bus, the State Customs Committee’s press service reported.
During questioning, the man stated that he was not carrying any goods subject to customs declaration. However, while inspecting his personal belongings, customs officers found a cardboard box in his backpack containing 138 state-issued banknotes of various denominations and years of issue.
A customs examination determined that 136 of the banknotes qualify as cultural property because they were produced more than 100 years ago. The collection was valued at about 1,600 Belarusian rubles. Administrative proceedings have been initiated against the man.
Customs officials reminded travelers that cultural property must be declared when leaving Belarus and that permission from the Ministry of Culture is required for its export.
