Customs officers find $425,000 hidden in car at Verkhny Lars

North Ossetian customs officers and regional FSB personnel found $425,000 in a car driven towards Georgia, Russia’s Federal Customs Service reported on October 14.

Officers inspecting the passenger car at the Verkhny Lars crossing discovered a concealed compartment containing cash. The Customs Service said the currency had not been declared and was sent for expert examination.

The agency recalled that exporting foreign currency cash from Russia above the equivalent of $10,000 is prohibited. The discovery does not itself mean a court has convicted the driver or established his guilt.

Customs officials cited the possibility of criminal proceedings under Article 200.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code for illegally exporting more than $200,000. The report described possible penalties including a fine of three to ten times the amount unlawfully moved, restriction of liberty or imprisonment for up to two years.

The supplied announcement did not say that a case had already been opened against this driver or give the examination results.