Officers at the Southern Operational and Central Postal Customs offices seized 16 international parcels from India concealing gemstones worth RUB 3.4 million (a combined weight of 2,125 carats). Source: FCS Russia.
The consignments were addressed to a 38-year-old Rostov-on-Don resident who directs a jewellery company. In his customs declaration he described the contents as ordinary stones for personal use.
Inspection and expert analysis proved otherwise: the shipment included sapphires, rubies, opals, moonstones, rose quartz, garnets and blue apatites — precious and semi-precious stones.
A criminal case was opened against the recipient under Article 226.1(1) of the Russian Criminal Code on the unlawful cross-border movement of strategically important raw materials. The offence carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
