Customs seize over €26,000 from passenger travelling to Thailand

Customs officials stations at the Malta International Airport have seized €26,355 in undeclared cash from a passenger, who said he was carrying the money because he planned to invest it abroad, according to the Customs department.

It said the passenger was on his was to Thailand when he was found to be carrying €36,355 in cash, during a routine check carried out in the non-Schengen departures lounge.

According to a Customs Department statement, the passenger said that he was travelling to Thailand to invest the money, adding that he was not aware of the law requiring sums of money larger than €10,000 to be declared with Customs.  

A total of €26,355 were withheld by the Customs Officials pending investigations, and the passenger was allowed to keep the remaining €10,000.

Customs said that the Police Economic Crimes Unit had been duly informed and that the passenger was not allowed to continue his journey and would be arraigned in court in the coming days.

Travellers carrying sums of money above the allowed limit must make a declaration with customs by filling in an application before arrival or departure at air and sea ports.

The Customs department stressed that there were no limitations on the amount of money one could carry, as long as any amount in excess of €10,000 is declared.