The head of the customs department at Cairo Airport, Maged Moussa, warned on Thursday that anyone who does not declare the mobile devices in his or her possession while traveling may be considered evading customs procedures.
Moussa explained out that carrying one phone has been exempted – and if someone carries more than that, they will have to pay customs for the rest of their phones.
During a press conference on the mechanisms for implementing the new electronic system for governing the operation of mobile devices, Moussa added that the customs exemption for mobile devices is limited to personal use, and comes in accordance with the directives of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
Possessing more than four devices is considered a commercial activity and not personal use, as one phone is exempt from customs duties, he said, while the fees are applied to the other three, and if five phones or more are brought in, that person will be treated as a merchant.
He explained that when a traveler enters Egypt, they must declare what they have on them, pay the state’s dues, and obtain their rights according to the provisions of the Customs Law.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
