Sakhalin customs officers stopped an attempt to smuggle alcohol and cigarettes on a vessel arriving from Japan. Source: FCS Russia.
At the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk, officers found about 55 litres of Japanese spirits (whisky, liqueur and brandy) and 60 packs of cigarettes without excise stamps. The goods were concealed in a cache inside a lubricant storage tank.
Investigators believe a crew member moved the products. The seafarer admitted he was familiar with customs rules and had breached them deliberately.
A criminal case was opened under Article 226.1(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (smuggling of strategically important goods). The suspect faces up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to one million roubles, with possible confiscation.
The operation was carried out jointly with the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia for Sakhalin Oblast.
