At the Vadul-Siret checkpoint on the border with Ukraine, Romanian border guards discovered an attempt to illegally import a large amount of cash. A Ukrainian couple tried to smuggle $1.4 million into Romania on foot, gluing it to their bodies with tape.
According to Romanian border guards, the incident occurred on the evening of June 14. A 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen and his 39-year-old wife, who has dual Ukrainian-Romanian citizenship, tried to pass a check, but aroused suspicion among customs officers. After a thorough inspection, it turned out that the man was hiding $810,000, and the woman was hiding $590,000.
None of the amounts were declared, which is a direct violation of Romanian law. According to current regulations, importing more than 10,000 euros without a written declaration is prohibited and carries severe sanctions.
The violators were fined 15,000 lei each (approximately 138,000 hryvnias) and all cash was confiscated. The case has been referred to the competent authorities for further consideration.
This incident is not the first attempt to illegally move large sums of money across the border. In September 2024, Polish customs officers detained a Ukrainian citizen who was carrying 355,000 euros and 46,000 dollars in a suitcase while traveling on the Kyiv-Przemysl train.
The customs services of the EU countries once again remind you: any amounts over 10 thousand euros (or the equivalent in another currency) must be declared when crossing the border, otherwise the money may be confiscated, and the violator will be fined.
