Фото: ГТК
Belarusian customs authorities have intercepted a consignment of hashish that was being smuggled across the border with Poland.
According to the State Customs Committee, 260 kg of hashish were found in a truck operated by a Polish carrier. The vehicle crossed the border at the Berastavitsa checkpoint and was then sent for inspection to the departmental customs clearance facility “Bruzgi TLC”.
During the inspection of the consolidated cargo being transported in the truck, officers discovered 100 briquettes containing a brown substance. An expert examination confirmed that the substance was hashish.
The State Customs Committee said that the recipient of the consolidated cargo was a Belarusian entity, which was unaware that the smugglers had hidden hashish among legally imported goods.
The seizure in Belarus was followed by joint operational actions with Russian law enforcement agencies. As a result, the actual recipient of the contraband was identified and detained — a 41-year-old Russian citizen.
“The Hrodna Regional Customs and the Central Operational Customs Directorate of Russia’s Federal Customs Service have opened criminal cases. Members of the criminal group face prison sentences of up to 20 years,” the State Customs Committee said.