Russian authorities have detained a man at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow on suspicion of gold smuggling. Customs officials were alerted about suspicious items and searched inside the man’s luggage.
During the search, officials say they uncovered two recently minted gold bars weighing a combined total of 24.75 kg.
The man has not been identify has not been released by authorities. However, a video circulating on social media shows what appears to be a man in custody in an office with authorities photographing two 400 troy ounce LBMA-style gold bars laying out on a desk.
The gold bars are both stamped with РОССИЯ, the hallmark of the Russian Federation.
The bar in the top part of the frame is hallmarked with the insignia for Novosibirsk Siberia. Novosibirsk is home to the headquarters of a legendary gold refinery and bar manufacturing plant that was built during the USSR period.
The second bar shows the hallmark for Krastsvetmet. Krastsvetmet was established in 1943 during World War II with a focus on platinum group metals.
The gold refinery at Kastsvetmet opened in 1959 but was updated and expanded during the 1990s and is now the largest refiner of newly mined gold in the Russian Federation.
Prior to sanctions being implemented in response to the Ukrainian War, Russia had eight refineries that were listed a Good Delivery providers having LBMA Accreditation
The Russian News service reports that the man faces 3 to 7 years in prison for smuggling.
