The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) has explained the features of full customs controls starting on the border with the Russian Federation.
New customs rules are due to the decision of the Estonian government to strengthen control over sanctioned goods.
“We ask all people going to the Russian Federation to make sure that the goods they carry are not subject to sanctions and to plan twice as much time for crossing the border as usual. We have informed customs cooperation partners of the change,” said Voldemar Linno, Head of ETCB’s Customs Control Department.
According to the ETCB’s statement:
- For a traveller crossing the border on foot, full customs control means the inspection and examination of the traveller and the luggage he or she carries. If the passenger crosses the border by car, the mean of transport and the goods inside are also checked.
- Passengers travelling by regular buses are also asked to step out of the bus with their luggage and undergo pedestrian customs checks.
- Control of goods means checking the correctness of the booking of the truck, scanning the truck, opening the doors of the cargo area and control.
ETCB reported that in 2023 customs control detected over 5,000 violations, and every hour, customs officers sent back several people who had been warned for violating sanctions issued by the Narva customs office (near the Russian border).
