On a bus route to Manzhouli (China), Chita customs officers seized nearly 7 kg of unprocessed walrus tusk fragments from passengers. Source: FCS Russia.
At the Zabaykalsk checkpoint, inspectors noticed two Russian women and a foreign national who appeared highly nervous. A search found eight mammal derivatives hidden in socks under the women’s clothing and two more pieces taped to the man’s leg — ten items in total.
The women said they were carrying the cargo for a fee on behalf of a third party; the foreign national claimed he had bought it for himself. Forensic examination confirmed that the seized items were unprocessed walrus tusk fragments.
Administrative cases were opened under Article 16.1(2) of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences for concealing goods from customs control by using caches; the case files were referred to a magistrate.
