A Chinese visitor to Malta made a costly mistake when he failed to declare to the authorities that he was carrying over €10,000 in cash.

Hao Lin, 26, from Catania, arrived on a catamaran yesterday on a voyage form Pozzallo. Customs officials found the man to be carrying some €30,230 in cash, together with a fake €100 banknote.

Assisted by lawyer Melanie Sammut, Lin pleaded guilty to possession of falsified currency and failing to declare his cash.

The court handed him a 13 month sentence, suspended for two years. The court also ordered the seizure of the €20,230 together with a 25% fine over the global amount – some €7,557.

 

Inspector Yvonne Farrugia prosecuted.

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Customes Department statement issued earlier

Customs officers screening passengers arriving from Sicily elevated 30,230 euros of undeclared cash hidden in a vehicle, the department said.

The Chinese national, with an Italian residency permit, was travelling by car and was stopped for routine excise and currency checks by Customs Enforcement Officials. The passenger was asked if he had anything to declare to Customs, to which he responded that he is carrying empty luggage and 50 euros in cash.

Upon opening one of the empty luggage, 10,000euros in cash was discovered hidden. Subsequent searches in the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a wad of cash amounting to 10,000 euros hidden in the glove compartment. Following a personal search, a final wad of cash amounting 10,000 euros was discovered hidden in the passenger's trousers. He was also in possession of one counterfeit fifty (50) euro note and one counterfeit hundred (100) euro note.

The passenger was handed the 10,000euros he is entitled to, with the remaining cash being seized and handed over to the Police Economic Crimes Unit along with the passenger who was placed under arrest.