A 48-year-old Russian woman arriving from Hong Kong has been detained at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow Oblast for attempting to smuggle jewelry worth over eight million rubles into the country.
The Federal Customs Service of Russia reported to Lenta.ru that customs officers stopped the passenger during a selective check in the airport green corridor. Customs personnel scanned the woman's hand luggage using an X-ray machine after she selected the non-declaration channel.
The X-ray scanner revealed that the traveler had stashed five rings, three pairs of earrings, one bracelet and six brand certificates inside a neck pillow. During a further personal search, customs officers found a necklace tucked into the pocket of her raincoat, after which the woman removed a packet containing 24 precious stones from inside her sneaker.
Jewelry and stone examination
Subsequent expert testing established that the confiscated jewelry pieces were made of 750-proof gold featuring precious stone settings. Forensic analysts identified the loose items inside the zip-lock bag as uncut diamonds, kunzites, tourmalines and spinels, assessing the total value of the undeclared items at over eight million rubles.
The Federal Customs Service is the executive body responsible for supervising border controls, collecting tariffs and enforcing import regulations across the Russian Federation. Passenger rules mandate that travelers carrying high-value luxury goods or commercial items must present a written customs declaration and proceed through the designated red channel rather than the green corridor.
Penalties under customs law
Russian law classifies the unauthorized import of strategically important goods as a criminal offense. Customs authorities confirmed that the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, along with potential monetary fines reaching up to one million rubles.
Sheremetyevo International Airport, situated in Moscow Oblast, serves as a primary hub for international flights entering the capital region. In metal hallmarking, 750-proof gold denotes an alloy containing 75 percent pure gold, while precious minerals such as diamonds, tourmalines and spinels are monitored under national trade control laws.
