At Kazan Airport, Tatarstan customs officers blocked an attempt to take cultural valuables and strategically important goods worth RUB 3.3 million out of Russia; the suspect is a 58-year-old man. Source: FCS Russia.
The traveller was sent for selective inspection in the green channel. Officers counted 112 antiquarian items in his hand luggage among personal belongings. He said he had bought everything in antique shops for his own use.
Expert review found that most pieces are made of gold and silver alloys. Fifty-eight were classified as cultural heritage: coins from the reigns of Catherine II and Alexander I and from the German Empire period, two USSR medals “For Battle Merit”, and five “Mother’s Glory” orders. Cutlery and jewellery from the same batch were treated as strategically important goods.
A criminal case was opened under Article 226.1(1) of the Russian Criminal Code for large-scale smuggling of strategically important goods and cultural valuables; the penalty may be up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
The seized items will remain in custody pending a court ruling; the investigation is ongoing.
