Fine Exceeds 11,000 Euros
A BiH citizen attempted to bring over 36,000 euros, Swiss francs, and dollars into the EU without declaring them to customs.
A BiH citizen attempted to bring over 36,000 euros, Swiss francs, and dollars into the EU without declaring them to customs.
Customs officers at the Županja Bridge border crossing prevented an attempt to bring an undeclared amount of cash into the European Union on Monday, August 3, 2026. A citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, driving a car with Austrian license plates, tried to carry a total of 36,745 euros, 600 Swiss francs, and 1,000 US dollars without fulfilling the legal obligation to declare it.
The Croatian Customs Administration reported on Tuesday that the money was found during a routine inspection. The cash was distributed across several envelopes in his personal luggage, with some also in his wallet. Upon entering the EU customs territory, the traveler did not declare the money to either customs officials or border police.
For the offense under Article 41 of the Foreign Exchange Act, the offender was issued a misdemeanor notice on the spot. He was fined 11,490 euros, which amounts to nearly a third of the total sum he attempted to smuggle.
The Customs Administration once again reminded all travelers of the applicable rules. Any individual entering or leaving the European Union must declare cash amounting to 10,000 euros or more, or the equivalent in other currencies. The declaration must be submitted to the Customs Administration or border police, either in writing or electronically, using the prescribed form.
This case serves as yet another warning that Croatian customs officers at border crossings with non-EU countries, such as the one near Županja towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, strictly enforce compliance with foreign exchange regulations.
