At Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg, customs officers stopped a married couple arriving from Phuket and seized undeclared jewellery. Source: FCS Russia.
On the “green” channel, inspection found three gemstone rings worn on both passengers’ hands.
The husband, who works in jewellery manufacturing, said the rings were far from new and admitted the couple knew the declaration rules but chose not to declare the items.
Expertise concluded otherwise: the pieces were new, made of 925 silver alloy with sapphire, garnet and tourmaline settings, valued at a total of RUB 2.6 million.
A criminal case was opened under Article 226.1(2)(c) of the Criminal Code (smuggling of strategically important goods on a large scale by a group acting in prior conspiracy). The maximum penalty is up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
