Russian Imperial Coins Being Transferred To Hungary
In the bustling Vnukovo Airport of Moscow, a mystery unraveled as customs officers intercepted a passenger with a trove of gold coins, dated from the Russian Empire era, allegedly bound for Budapest, Hungary, according to Liter.kz.
The unexpected discovery in the "green" corridor for random checks left the woman red-faced and baffled, as inspectors found three vibrant gold coins hidden away in her hand luggage. Foolishly, the passenger had carried them under the misapprehension of adhering to customs rules, claiming to have inherited the valuables for safekeeping.
A closer examination by experts revealed the coins to be genuine, with denominations of 5 and 10 rubles, minted in the St. Petersburg Mint around 1901-1903. The historical coins are valuable cultural artifacts, carrying immense historical significance.
Photo: FTS Russia press service
Facing potential criminal charges, the woman's case is currently under investigation, with charges likely to be brought under Part 1 of Article 226.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (contraband of cultural values). Depending on the outcome, she could face imprisonment of up to five years, or be slapped with fines reaching 1 million rubles (approximately 6.256 million tenge).
Photo: FTS Russia press service
In smuggling cases like these, law enforcement agencies work diligently to uncover the motives and prevent such acts, given the historical and cultural value of the artifacts involved. A successful prosecution under Article 226.1 would focus on proving the intent to evade customs controls and potential harm to cultural heritage.
The intercepted woman, with coins from the Russian Empire era, had naively believed she was complying with customs rules; however, the discovered coins were classified as contraband under Russian law due to their cultural significance. Expert analysis confirmed the genuine origin of the coins, with denominations dating back to 1901-1903 from the St. Petersburg Mint. As such, the general-news outlet, Liter.kz, reported that the woman might face up to five years in prison or a fine of over 1 million rubles under Part 1 of Article 226.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which deals with contraband of cultural values.
