North-West Operational and Pulkovo customs dismantled a channel for jewellery minerals from Sri Lanka: a St Petersburg resident tried to bring in 40 gemstones worth over RUB 3.4 million. Source: FCS Russia.
Two international parcels labelled as personal effects and stationery contained exercise books with cut-out cavities holding bags of 18 cut stones and description tags. The sender was a 43-year-old local who, while abroad, had mailed the packages to himself.
On return he was stopped on the green channel at Pulkovo. Screening found another 22 stones: eight in his pockets and fourteen in a glove hidden in swim footwear in his suitcase. He admitted organising the scheme to sell the stones via his own website.
Expertise classed the consignment as natural semi-precious coloured cut stones: spinel, yellow sapphire, chrysolite, aquamarine, moonstone, garnet, tourmaline, titanite, topaz and citrine.
Two criminal cases were opened under Article 226.1(1) of the Criminal Code (smuggling of strategically important resources); the penalty may include up to five years’ imprisonment.
