At Novokuznetsk Airport, Kemerovo customs officers stopped a 44-year-old Kuzbass resident arriving from Cam Ranh (Vietnam) and found two stuffed Siamese crocodiles in his baggage during selective screening. Source: FCS Russia.
X-ray inspection of the bag revealed a pair of dried reptiles, each weighing 165 g and about 19 cm long, with pearl beads placed in their half-open mouths.
The passenger said he had bought the souvenirs for a home collection and did not know they had to be declared or accompanied by permits.
Forensic examination identified the items as derivatives of Siamese crocodiles (true crocodiles). The species is endangered and covered by the CITES convention on international trade in wild fauna and flora.
Administrative cases were opened under Article 16.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences (breach of bans and restrictions) and Article 16.2(1) (failure to declare). The goods were seized; the offender faces a fine.
CITES-listed objects must be declared in writing when crossing the customs border, with the required permits submitted to the customs authority.
