Syrian stopped at airport carrying $38,000

A Syrian resident in Malta has been stopped at the airport about to take $38,000 and €8,525 out of Malta in violation of The External Transactions Act , a spokesman for the Customs Department said.

The man was intercepted by customs officers yesterday afternoon. $18,000 and €8,525 were found on his person and another $20,000 in a bag he was carrying. The cash had not been declared. The man was handed to the police for further investigation.

According to law, anybody entering or leaving Malta with more than €10,000 must declare the cash to customs. The law was enacted for reasons of security and to prevent money laundering.