Large sum of approximately 1,300,000 rubles was attempting to illegally transfer a traveler from Sochi to Georgia

In a recent incident at Sochi Airport, a man was stopped during a customs check on the flight "Sochi-Tbilisi." The man, whose name remains undisclosed, was charged with "violation of customs regulations by false declaration or non-declaration of money amounts."

Upon inspection, customs officers discovered a large undeclared sum of currency in the man's hand luggage. The investigation revealed that he was carrying 7,000 US dollars and 740,000 Russian rubles in cash. The total amount of currency found was equivalent to 1,304,000 rubles, which exceeded the permitted limit.

The permitted amount for the one-time import or export of cash and/or traveler's checks is equal to or does not exceed the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars. The man, however, had not submitted his customs declaration to the authorities, adding to his charges.

A case was opened for an administrative offense under Article 16.4 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, specifically for "Failure to declare or false declaration by physical persons of cash and/or monetary instruments."

This is not the first such incident at Sochi Airport. Since the beginning of 2025, the customs post has opened 406 cases for administrative offenses, with 103 of them being for the illegal transfer of cash currency across the border. The total amount of illegally transferred currency at the Sochi Airport since 2025 is equivalent to more than 10 million rubles.

It's important to note that since March 2022, a ban has been in place on the export of foreign cash and/or monetary instruments in an amount exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 US dollars. Most attempts to illegally export currency are to countries such as Turkey, Israel, the UAE, and Georgia.

Alexander V'yukov continues to serve as the acting deputy chief of the Sochi Airport customs post. He has been instrumental in enforcing customs regulations and combating illegal activities at the airport.

Despite the arrest and the ongoing efforts to combat illegal currency transfers, it is crucial for travellers to understand and adhere to the customs regulations to ensure a smooth and legal travel experience. It is important to declare all cash and monetary instruments to the customs authorities to avoid any legal complications.

Large sum of approximately 1,300,000 rubles was attempting to illegally transfer a traveler from Sochi to Georgia