Customs Seizure of Goods in Lithuania

Customs seizure of goods in Lithuania happens when the customs service (muitinė) detains goods, a vehicle or cash at the border, at a post or courier terminal or during a later check (prekių sulaikymas), takes them away (daiktų paėmimas) or, in the end, confiscates them (konfiskavimas). English speakers call this goods seized by customs, detained goods, or a seized car or cash. This page is for the owner or the person who carried the goods; it is general information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Seizure of Goods”; it is not about a bailiff (antstolis) seizing property for a debt.

Common situations

• A parcel from outside the EU held for missing documents, suspected counterfeits or goods that need a permit.
• Cash taken at an airport or a land border because it was not declared.
• A car with foreign plates, or a truck whose load does not match the documents.
• Goods stopped under the EU sanctions rules, which Lithuania applies at its borders with Belarus and Russia.

Two different routes

In a customs matter the goods are held while the customs service checks the documents, the value and the duties. The owner can provide documents, pay what is due or ask for the goods to be returned, and a customs decision can be challenged within the customs administration and in court. In a criminal case, usually a smuggling investigation, the items are taken as evidence or the owner’s rights over them are temporarily restricted (laikinas nuosavybės teisių apribojimas); the prosecutor or the court then decides whether they are returned or confiscated.

What to pay attention to

The time limits to challenge a decision are short and are stated in it. Invoices, proof of origin and proof of ownership carry most of the weight. A car that belongs to a leasing or rental company, or goods owned by a buyer who was not present, can be claimed by the owner even if someone else carried them. Storage costs can build up while the goods are held.

What a lawyer does

A lawyer finds out which route applies, gathers and submits the documents, challenges the decision, asks for the return of items no longer needed as evidence and represents the owner in court, working under a power of attorney when the owner is abroad. A dispute with a seller or a carrier about who bears the loss is covered under contract disputes and breach of contract. More on criminal law in Lithuania.

Questions and answers

Can I get my goods back?

Sometimes. In a customs matter, documents and the payment of duties can lead to release; in a criminal case the prosecutor or the court decides. No outcome can be promised in advance.

Is a seizure the same as a fine?

No. The seizure concerns the property; a fine or a criminal charge is a separate question about the person.

The car belongs to a leasing company. Who can ask for it?

The owner can claim it, and the person who used it can explain the circumstances. A lawyer coordinates both.

Can this be handled from abroad?

Yes, a lawyer can act under a power of attorney and submit documents on the owner’s behalf.