С ПРАВОМ НА ДОСМОТР

The content of the book reads like a good detective story. Moreover, the book was written by a person who thoroughly knows the customs system from the inside. The author himself went through a career in the Riga customs from the inspector of the operational shift to the chief inspector of the customs post. At the same time, his service took place during a period of global changes in the life of customs and the entire Soviet state. These are perestroika, the end of the state monopoly of foreign trade, the entry of enterprises into the international market, the flourishing of clothing and foreign exchange smuggling, the fight against Afghan drug trafficking, the collapse of the USSR, the activities of the customs of independent Latvia, and much more.

This is a kind of "anatomy of life" of the Riga customs during the period of "developed socialism". On her example, we see how they were admitted to the customs service, how much they paid, what was the structure of the customs, how ships, crews and passengers were searched, how customs officers were encouraged and punished. And, of course, numerous "pitfalls" between which the Riga customs officers had to maneuver.

In the book, the author analyzes the Customs Codes of the USSR of 1964 and 1991, which regulate the conditions for the movement of goods across the state border, as well as liability for violation of customs rules. In addition, the essay provides information from archival information reports on cases of smuggling, and also discusses the procedure for serving and wearing uniforms in the Soviet customs.

Nevertheless, the presented material consists not only of archival and legal sources, but also of the memoirs of participants in the events narrated in the book. At the same time, a distinctive feature is that the historical path of the Riga Customs directly intersects with the human fate of its employees. The author has a direct relationship with many people about whom the book tells, as they previously worked together at checkpoints on the state border and continue to cooperate now as part of the veterans' movement.