Neffous Shipping & Consulting, our P&I correspondents in Bejaia, Algeria, has provided us with the following information.

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Please note that during the vessel call at the Algerian ports, Masters under the legal obligation to declare the cash to the customs authorities. 

Undeclared cash onboard is subject to confiscation of the cash and fine of 2 times the amount confiscated is imposed under the Law 96-22 as amended by ordinance No. 10-03 dated 26/08/2010 on repression of infringement on  the laws and regulations of the exchange and capital movements to and from abroad which states that :

Article 1 :
Is considered Tentative violation or infringement to the legislation and the regulation of foreign exchange and capital movements to and from abroad, by any means whatsoever:
– False declaration
– Failure to comply with obligations declarations

Article 1 bis:
Anyone who commits an offense under article 1 above shall be punished by imprisonment for two (2) to seven (7) years and a fine which shall not be less than twice the sum due which brought the offense and the confiscation of the corpus delicti and means used for the fraud.

We have noted recently an increase of customs fine for Masters who are not declaring the cash onboard at Bejaia.

Therefore, we recommend that the Master will inform their local agents and made the declaration of the cash onboard‎ to the customs which will be handed to the customs in their presence.

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