Smolensk customs officers have stopped attempt of smuggling in Belarus collection of ancient coins worth 1.2 million RUB

Customs officials in Smolensk region have stopped attempt of export from Belarus collection of 30 ancient coins coinage of the XVIII-XX centuries. Most of the coins recognized as a cultural value and is estimated at 1.2 million rubles.

In December 2019 at night in the area of the settlement Kruglova rudnyansky district, Smolensk oblast stopped a car belonging to the citizen of the Republic of Belarus. In the cabin of the vehicle customs officers found and seized a collection of ancient coins, roaming without supporting documents authorizing the export of cultural property. According to the citizen, gold, silver and copper coins he had acquired in Moscow and planned to take to Belarus.

Seized coins sent for examination. According to the expert opinion of the Ministry of culture of Russia, 21 coin 30 is genuine and represents the cultural and historical value. One of the coins minted more than 300 years ago, and five over 200 years ago.

According to the letter of the Ministry of culture of the Russian Federation it is established that the owner of the collection has not applied for execution on the export or temporary export of cultural values. Thus, an attempt on the smuggling of cultural values in the large size.

On this fact the Smolensk customs has opened a criminal case under part 3 of article 30 of the criminal code – part 1 of article 226.1 of the criminal code. Currently, the customs officers carry out investigative actions, after which the material will be transferred by jurisdiction to the law enforcement agencies to conduct a preliminary investigation. The future of coins and the level of responsibility of the offender will determine the court.