In Saint Petersburg, customs officers seized 40 semi-precious stones…
In Saint Petersburg, customs officers seized 40 semi-precious stones worth 3.4 million rubles that a man attempted to smuggle into the country from Sri Lanka.
Consensus
- A 43-year-old Saint Petersburg resident attempted to smuggle gemstones from Sri Lanka into Russia.
- The man was intercepted at Pulkovo Airport during a green corridor inspection.
- The gemstones were hidden in notebooks, shoes, and clothing, including pockets and a glove.
- The total value of the gemstones exceeded 3.4 million rubles.
- The man admitted to organizing the smuggling scheme for online sale.
- The Federal Customs Service (FTS) of Russia confirmed the seizure and investigation.
- Two criminal cases were opened against the man under the smuggling statute.
- The maximum penalty for smuggling strategic resources is up to five years in prison.
Points of divergence
- The man sent packages to himself while abroad, and the initial suspicious packages were identified as containing personal items and stationery. — vesti
- The expert examination identified specific minerals including spinel, garnet, tourmaline, and topaz, which were not mentioned in the Vesti report. — gazeta_spb
Coverage (2 sources)
- St. Petersburg resident tried to smuggle valuables worth 3.4 million in notebooks and slippers — Вести
- Customs officers seized 40 precious stones worth 3.4 million rubles in St. Petersburg - Gazeta SPS RU - news from St. Petersburg — Gazeta.SPb