''We await the launching of flights to Turkey with concern, they may have maximum of bladed weapons''
Kazan is awaiting direct charter flights for fans from France, Iran, Germany
The number of passengers using international airlines is only growing. It is expected that this year their number will exceed one million people. The air hub is going to cope independently with an influx of guests, including during the World Cup, in contrast with the previous years when employees from other nearby cities were involved. Realnoe Vremya has found out what violations have become less and what changes in the work of customs control will affect the tourists.
We await the start of flights to Turkey with concern
Four shifts of 17-18 people — the customs station of Kazan International Airport round the clock controls luggage and passengers who decided to use international airlines. Last year, they were used by almost 920,000 people, this year a growth will be about 15%, it is expected that at the end of 2018 it will exceed the threshold of a million people. Over the past three months, more than 130,000 passengers have already crossed the border in Kazan Airport — it is one and a half times more than last year. Since the beginning of the year, 138 administrative cases have been initiated due to violations of customs regulations, for example, the import of prohibited goods — brass knuckles, batons, or non-declaration of alcohol, cigarettes.
''This year, compared with the previous, there is a visible decrease in detection of psychotropic substances, most often it is about potent drugs. There is a certain order of transportation for them, it is only necessary to show a medical clearance certificate before passing the customs control to have no problems,'' told Mirzanur Garayev, the chief of the customs station at Kazan International Airport of Tatarstan Customs.
There have become less violations in the importation of alcohol and tobacco products — a total of 138 administrative cases have been initiated on them and on the facts of transportation of psychotropic substances this year, although last year there were 199 cases. The customs explains this by preventive works.
''A growing number of transportation of bladed weapon — telescopic batons, brass knuckles – is perplexing. Although their importation into the territory of Russia is prohibited. They await the start of flights to Turkey with concern, sometimes they identify a maximum of such items,'' fears Mirzanur Garayev.
We will have to rely on our own forces
In the past years, officials from other neighbouring regions, about 20 people, were seconded to the airport during major competitions.
''In the region of the Volga region administration, several cities host the competitions, so we don't have to rely on the help of colleagues. The Tatarstan customs can only rely on its own forces. It is planned the participation of other customs authorities — of the Kazan customs station, the post customs office. This year we will resolve the issue quickly depending on a situation, I don't think that there will be a need for the same quantities,'' the chief considers.
At the same time, it is already known about direct charter flights for fans from France, Iran, Germany. These destinations do not cause a special interest of customs officers, unlike some countries in the Middle East. For closer inspection of luggage, they have the radiographic scanner Kontur – it helps to find 'caches' that the offender decided to arrange in his or her body. It works on the principle of x-ray, with the resulting radiation dose much less than of the medical procedure. They check about one or two passengers from flights from the Middle East, but nothing has been found so far.
Theye have a signal search meter that helps to detect radiation. It often comes from people who have been treated for cancer, they just need to show a certificate from a medical institution. They also have a portable television-inspection system that helps to inspect the aircraft, earlier they used inspection mirrors. Traces of drugs and explosives can be caught in the air with the help of ion-drift detector Kerber.
The canine department helps to detect explosives or drugs.
''There are four dogs in the staff, they serve up to 8 years. After that age most often the canine handler who worked with the dog take it to himself or herself,'' said Vladislav Okashin, the head of the canine department of Tatarstan Customs.
However, in recent years no drugs have been found, Mirzanur Garayev already do not remember when they faced this at the customs station of the airport the last time. ''Usually they find them in post items, they know that the airports have the equipment, so they do not use such means,'' says the director.
Tax free for tourists
During the World Cup in all host cities there will operate Tax free system — the reimbursement of the value added tax for a purchase. The total amount of purchases should be at least 10,000 rubles, it is better to keep all receipts. Phrasebooks in four languages — Russian, English, French and German — have already been prepared for the international competition in order to better understand the tourists.
As for the rules in force, then everything is without changes — green channel without declaration, red one — with declaration. Of the most common items you can import it is cash no more than 10,000 USD, alcohol — no more than 3 litres per person, tobacco — no more than 200 cigarettes.