Interior Ministry cautions travelers to Germany on cash and valuables

RIYADH — The Interior Ministry has asked citizens and expatriates traveling to Germany with cash and jewelry exceeding 10,000 euros to declare them to the customs on arrival at any German airport, Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Wednesday. Head of the ministry's department of information and public relations Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Maroul said the decision was taken on directives received from the Foreign Ministry on Germany's financial regulations. "Under German regulations, any traveler carrying with them more than 10,000 euros in cash or jewelry must declare them at the customs on arrival and departure," he said. He asked the travelers with big amounts of cash, jewelry or gold to head for the red gate at the lounges of arrival and departure to declare their value. Maroul said the Saudi Consulate in Frankfurt has advised travelers to register their cash money and other valuables in the declaration forms of the customs department at the time of arrival or departure. He said these regulations were adopted by the European Union under recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter money laundering.