Customs at Riga Airport see rise in attempts to smuggle in banned goods
Customs officers at Riga Airport have noted a growing number of attempts to bring in prohibited items such as cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and even sleeping pills, with over two tonnes of illegally imported food already seized from passenger luggage this year.
Customs officials at Riga Airport have recorded an increase in violations detected during checks this year. Most cases involve attempts to bring in cigarettes and alcohol, but there has also been a rise in attempts to smuggle in narcotic substances.
Food products and souvenirs
In the first half of this year, customs officers seized more than two tonnes of food products from passenger luggage that travelers had tried to bring into the country illegally from countries outside the European Union. At the same time, officials are increasingly encountering cases where passengers try to bring exotic natural souvenirs purchased outside the EU into Latvia without authorization.
A new trend — sleeping medication
Customs has also pointed to an emerging pattern: for the first time this year, cases have been recorded of travelers attempting to bring unauthorized sleeping medication into Latvia. Previously, such violations were not noted as a widespread issue.
The customs service continues enhanced controls at Riga Airport to prevent prohibited goods from entering Latvian and European Union territory.
