Airport checks lead customs officials to €25,000 in undeclared cash

Customs officials seized close to €25,000 in undeclared on Sunday, according to a statement by the department.

The money was seized during a routine check at the Malta International Airport arrivals lounge where passengers arriving to Malta from Madrid were screened.

Customs said a Libyan national was stopped after he exited the Blue Channel, “which means he was arriving from an EU airport and had nothing to declare to customs”.

“When asked if he was carrying any cash, the passenger answered that was only carrying €5,500. Unconvinced, the officials performed a personal search on the passenger and his belongings and elevated a total of €34,970,” customs said.

The department said it had returned €10,000 to the passenger, with the rest of the money set to be deposited in court. The economic crimes unit was informed and the passenger was placed under arrest pending an investigation, the customs department added.

As per EU and national law, any cash exceeding €10,000 must always be declared when travelling to or from Malta as part as part of efforts to combat money laundering, customs said.