Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS) reported the detention of a 54-year-old Uzbek citizen at Domodedovo Airport after customs officers found 446 precious and semi-precious stones in his luggage.

The man was stopped at the green channel. An X-ray scan of his suitcase revealed 32 green stones. He then voluntarily handed over a metal plate and 313 minerals from his trouser pockets. A zip bag containing another 101 stones was found in his underwear.

The passenger claimed he was bringing the stones as samples for his jewelry company and was unaware of the need to declare them. Expert examination identified the plate as 960-proof silver, and the minerals as emeralds, apatites, tourmalines, and synthetic moissanites.

The total value of the goods was estimated at 2.5 million rubles (about $32,200). The court found him guilty of smuggling strategically important resources on a large scale and sentenced him to 10 months in a penal colony.

Source: www.gazeta.uz