Ussuri customs officials prevented an attempt to smuggle thirteen sperm whale teeth by a tourist from Russia to China. A criminal case has been initiated against the violator, who faces up to 10 years in prison.
“Three teeth were found in the pocket of a Russian tourist's jacket, and another ten in the toilets of the ‘Pogranichny’ checkpoint,” the press release states.
The man admitted that he had asked a Chinese citizen to transport derivatives of an endangered species across the border for money.
“Three acquaintances were involved in the scheme. They were supposed to take out ten teeth, but after the organizer was detained, they decided to get rid of the evidence and threw them into garbage containers in the toilets,” customs officials explained.
An examination confirmed that the teeth are of cultural value and are protected under the CITES convention.
Customs officials initiated a criminal case. “The violator faces up to 10 years in prison,” the service's statement said.
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