FSB Disrupts Gold Refining Lab in Yekaterinburg
FSB officers detained four Russians who organized an underground laboratory for the refining of precious metals in Yekaterinburg.
Consensus
- Four Russian citizens were arrested in Yekaterinburg for operating an underground laboratory for refining gold and silver.
- The laboratory used chemical methods to refine precious metals from secondary raw materials.
- The refined metals were sent to the Moscow region for sale.
- Over 800 kg of secondary raw material containing precious metals was seized.
- Affinaged precious metals worth at least 13.3 million rubles were seized.
- Criminal cases were opened under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Russian Criminal Code.
- Maximum penalty under this article is seven years in prison.
- Authorities are investigating other individuals possibly involved in the illegal trade of precious metals and stones.
Points of divergence
- On December 9, a group was detained in Magadan Oblast for illegal trade of precious metals; about 70 kg of gold and silver in ingots were found stored in homes and vehicles. — vedomosti
- The criminal case was filed for illegal trade of amber, nephrite, or other semi-precious stones, precious metals, gemstones, or pearls under Part 5 of Article 191. — kommersant
- FSB previously dismantled an underground laboratory in the Moscow region where precious metals were processed for smuggling and money laundering. — vm
Coverage (5 sources)
- FSB identified underground gold refining laboratory in Yekaterinburg — Ведомости
- FSB raided a gold purification laboratory in Yekaterinburg — Вечерняя Москва
- FSB exposed underground laboratory for refining precious metals in Yekaterinburg — Коммерсантъ
- FSB showed footage of underground gold extraction lab from scrap — Вести
- FSB stopped illegal trade of gold and silver through Moscow region — Вести
Key entities
- FSB
- Yekaterinburg
- Russia
- Moscow
- Moscow Region
- COS
- MVD
- Sverdlovsk Oblast
- Moskovskogo
- Center for Public Relations
- Siloviki