Salmon Was Transported to Russia From Belarus Under the Guise of Onions

In Russia’s Smolensk Region, authorities intercepted 11.7 tonnes of fish products that were being transported from Belarus to Russia under the guise of frozen onions.

A mobile customs unit stopped a truck in the Kardymovo District of the Smolensk Region. The driver presented documents for the transport of quick-frozen chopped onions from Belarus to Russia. During the inspection, customs officers found boxes containing salmon backbones and bellies.

The 11.7 tonnes of fish products were being moved without accompanying documents. The value of the cargo is estimated at more than 4.5 million Russian roubles (about 57,000 dollars), the Russian Federal Customs Service reported.

Smolensk Customs opened a criminal case against the driver and an unidentified individual on charges of the illegal movement of strategically important resources across the border.