In Primorye, customs officials confiscated a record batch of sea cucumbers from Chinese citizens – Rossiyskaya Gazeta

Suspicious bus passengers quickly attracted the attention of customs officials: they immediately realized that one of the women was hiding some kind of package under her sweater. When the customs officer asked the question, he and his companion clearly became nervous.

After inspection, it turned out that the foreigners were carrying sea cucumbers in their personal belongings and under their clothes. They told customs officials that a stranger had asked to take the goods across the border to deliver them to someone in China.

The sea cucumber was sent for examination. Two cases of administrative offenses were opened against citizens of the People’s Republic of China under Part 1 of Article 16.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (non-declaration of goods in the prescribed manner). Provides for a fine of up to double the value of the merchandise. Measures are also being taken to bring foreigners to administrative responsibility under Article 16.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (non-compliance with prohibitions and restrictions). Dried sea cucumber is subject to veterinary control and for export it is necessary to have permission from the Rosselkhoznadzor and a veterinary certificate.

Since the beginning of the year, Ussuri customs has detected 17 attempts at illegal smuggling of sea cucumbers. The total weight of the contraband was almost 47 kilograms.