Customs officers in Sochi intercepted a 66-year-old Russian woman arriving from Istanbul after discovering nearly 1,600 pieces of undeclared jewelry hidden under her clothes and in her handbag. The items, weighing a total of 6.5 kilograms, included chains, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings, with an estimated value of 56 million rubles.
The jewelry, made primarily of gold, featured inlays of diamonds, cubic zirconia, onyx, mother-of-pearl, malachite, cultured pearls, amethyst, citrine, and other natural and artificial materials. The woman had concealed the items in a waistband with hidden pockets and her handbag while passing through the "green corridor," typically reserved for passengers without goods to declare.
According to the woman, she was transporting the jewelry at the request of a Turkish acquaintance and was supposed to deliver it to an unknown recipient in Sochi. Customs officials have launched an investigation into the incident, as smuggling undeclared goods of such high value is a serious offense under Russian law.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by customs authorities in detecting and preventing the illegal transport of high-value items. It also underscores the risks individuals take when agreeing to transport goods on behalf of others, often without full knowledge of the legal consequences.
Customs officials have urged travelers to declare all valuables and avoid carrying items for third parties to prevent similar incidents.
