The man was carrying undeclared bullion worth 90 million rubles when he attempted to cross the border
Russian customs have apprehended a German national who attempted to bring undeclared bullion worth an estimated 90 million rubles ($984,153) into the country. Authorities said that the gold bars weigh some 13 kilograms and were concealed in a caravan belonging to the 58-year-old.
In a post on its Telegram channel on Monday, the Federal Customs Service said that when filling out a customs declaration at the border in Russia’s western Pskov Region, the suspect stated that his possessions were limited to his vehicle. However, on closer inspection with the help of special equipment, customs officials uncovered the hidden bullion.
A criminal probe has been launched, with the suspect facing up to five years behind bars and a fine of up to one million rubles.
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The German citizen was carrying a total of 21 gold bars, Gazeta.ru cited the customs service as saying.
The Russian-language version of Germany’s Bild media outlet said that the photos of the bullion released by Russian authorities feature gold bars that carry the name ‘Degussa’ – a German company specializing in the rare metals trade.
Due to sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict, the transfer of gold into Russia from the bloc’s territory has been strictly prohibited.