Japan P&I association has published information, received from their correspondents in Algeria, Neffous Shipping & Consulting, regarding custom’s fines regulations into force for vessels calling at Algerian ports. Masters are under a legal obligation to declare cash on board to the customs authorities.
Undeclared cash on board is subject to confiscation. Also, a fine of at least double the amount confiscated is imposed under the Law 96-22 (as amended by ordinance No. 10-03 dated 26/08/2010), on the repression of infringement on the laws and regulations of the exchange and capital movements to and from abroad.
The law states that considered a tentative violation or infringement to the legislation and the regulation of foreign exchange and capital movements to and from abroad, by any means whatsoever, is:
- False declaration
- Failure to comply with obligations declarations
In addition, the law defines that anyone who commits an offence as of the above shall be punished by imprisonment for between two (2) and seven (7) years and a fine. This fine shall not be less than twice the sum due, which brought the offence and the confiscation of the corpus delicti and means used for the fraud.
The correspondents have noted recently an increase of customs fines for Masters who are not declaring cash on board at Bejaia. Therefore, they recommend that Masters inform their local agents and declare any cash on board to the customs. The declaration will be handed to customs authorities in their presence.
Source: Japan P&I Club
