Pulkovo Airport customs seized six undeclared handcrafted violins from three passengers travelling to China. Source: FCS Russia.
Officers stopped the men in the green channel after noticing the instrument cases they were carrying. The passengers said they represented a Russian manufacturer and were taking the instruments to an international music exhibition as samples.
An appraisal put the value of the violins at more than 2.3 million roubles.
Three administrative cases were opened under Article 16.2(1) of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences (failure to declare goods). A court ordered the instruments forfeited to the state; they have been transferred to the orchestra fund of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Moscow Military District.
Under the EAEU Customs Code, personal-use goods are items moved for personal, family or household purposes. Goods intended for exhibition display do not qualify and must be declared.
