Customs Committee: no one could physically plant the drugs on Bankauskas
Belarusian customs officers did not put the drugs into the car of the Lithuanian policeman Laimanas Bankauskas. This was told by the Head of the Administration on struggle with contraband and administrative customs offences, of the Customs Committee, Andrej Mikhalkevich, to the European Radio for Belarus.
Mikhalkevich: “Customs officers, border patrols physically couldn't do that. When inspection of a vehicle is conducted at the border crossing point, you probably noticed if you ever crossed the border, surveillance cameras are everywhere. It is made also in order to analyze how professional the officers were and whether everything was legal, afterwards. In case of some other situations - it was the business of investigation to solve them”.
According to him, the reason for close inspection of Bankauskas' car was excess quantity of air fresheners in it. However, Mikhalkevich did not clarify whether it had been the only factor which had drawn the attention of customs officers, or whether the Lithuanian policeman had been under observation and already suspected in contraband.
Mikhalkevich: “I would not comment some concrete facts in the interests of investigation. The information that he had much more air fresheners in the car that people usually use had been announced in the media before. Customs officers and border patrols do notice things like that”.
Alongside with that, the representative of the Customs Committee assured that no one would prevent Bankauskas from visiting Belarus again.. However, if he gets into "risk profile" we will be closely inspected again.
Let us remind you, that Laimanas Bankauskas was arrested on August 16 in Ashmiany. He was accused of drugs trafficking. Bankauskas was released in the evening on August 25. He claimed himself innocent during all this time.
Mikhalkevich: “Customs officers, border patrols physically couldn't do that. When inspection of a vehicle is conducted at the border crossing point, you probably noticed if you ever crossed the border, surveillance cameras are everywhere. It is made also in order to analyze how professional the officers were and whether everything was legal, afterwards. In case of some other situations - it was the business of investigation to solve them”.
According to him, the reason for close inspection of Bankauskas' car was excess quantity of air fresheners in it. However, Mikhalkevich did not clarify whether it had been the only factor which had drawn the attention of customs officers, or whether the Lithuanian policeman had been under observation and already suspected in contraband.
Mikhalkevich: “I would not comment some concrete facts in the interests of investigation. The information that he had much more air fresheners in the car that people usually use had been announced in the media before. Customs officers and border patrols do notice things like that”.
Alongside with that, the representative of the Customs Committee assured that no one would prevent Bankauskas from visiting Belarus again.. However, if he gets into "risk profile" we will be closely inspected again.
Let us remind you, that Laimanas Bankauskas was arrested on August 16 in Ashmiany. He was accused of drugs trafficking. Bankauskas was released in the evening on August 25. He claimed himself innocent during all this time.
