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Investigation of a probe into gold smuggling finished

The Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia finished investigation of a probe into illegal trafficking of gold bars across the customs border of the EAEU Customs Community. The criminal case involved drivers of the railway locomotive Alexey Sanin and Alexander Konygin as perpetrators. Depending on the role of each they were charged under Part 5 of Article 191, Part 1 of Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal turnover of precious metals and the smuggling of strategically important resources).

Investigation established that a resident of Zabaikalsky Territory under unspecified circumstances purchased 102 handicraft gold bars with a total weight of 36 kg and a cost of over 151 million rubles. In order to smuggle gold from Russia to the People's Republic of China, the said citizen entered into an agreement with the accused Sanin and Konygin. They, in their turn, having received gold bars, in September 2020, being at the Zabaikalsk railway station, placed them in the cavity of the air conditioner in the locomotive driver's cabs. After that, as part of an export train loaded with coal, the drivers proceeded to the restricted area of the Chita customs post to go through customs control and leave the territory of Russia for the PRC.

The gold hidden in the cache was discovered and seized as a result of operational-search measures carried out by the FSB officers of Russia in the Trans-Baikal Territory.

The criminal case was referred to the supervisory authority for approval of the indictment and transfer to the court for consideration on the merits.

A probe into the person having handed over the gold to the accused is being processed separately, at present the perpetrator is on the wanted list.