PrimaMedia, April 23

Russian customs foils smuggling attempt of agrochemicals and food to China

Officers of the Ussuri Customs thwarted an attempt to illegally export goods from Russia after discovering undeclared cargo hidden in a bus bound for China via the Poltavka road checkpoint, the customs service's press office reported.

"During an inspection, customs officers found undeclared agrochemicals, canned meat and fish, and olive oil—totaling 132 kilograms—concealed in the vehicle's technical compartments and beneath passenger seats," the statement read.

The driver, a foreign national, initially claimed he was not transporting any goods subject to declaration. However, under questioning, he admitted to knowing that the cargo—particularly the agrochemicals—required proper documentation and had deliberately hidden it to evade customs checks.

Administrative proceedings have been launched against the violator under Part 2 of Article 16.1 of Russia's Code of Administrative Offenses for smuggling goods using hidden compartments. He faces a fine of up to three times the value of the illegal shipment, along with potential confiscation of the goods.

"Neither the size of the hiding place nor the motive for concealing goods from customs control matters," emphasized Anna Lisitsa, head of the Poltavka road checkpoint under Ussuri Customs. "Any attempt to move goods across the customs border illegally is grounds for prosecution."

This follows the recent conclusion of a criminal investigation into a 58-year-old foreign national accused of smuggling and illegally trafficking rare mushrooms in Primorsky Krai.