Customs and security officers in Primorsky Krai halted an attempt to smuggle 12 tonnes of frozen chum salmon to China through the Kraskino border crossing; the cargo was valued at around RUB 4 million. Source: FCS Russia.
Investigators say a Chinese businessperson and a Russian fish distributor, acting in concert, were behind the export scheme.
Operational work established that the fish had no confirmed origin and that export documents filed at customs did not match the consignment actually being moved.
Ussuriysk Customs initiated a criminal case under Article 226.1(2)(v) of the Russian Criminal Code for the unlawful cross-border movement of a strategically important resource in a large amount by an organised group. The offence carries a prison term of five to ten years and a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
