MOSCOW: Russian customs has started investigation to find out who was responsible for attempting to smuggle 232 kilograms of marijuana which worth TT$3.2 million that passed through Belarus before coming to Russia.
Although no one was held in connection with container of marijuana, senior customs officials have warned that they were prepared to deal with drug smugglers in a very serious and harsh manner.
Customs and Excise agents intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with metal bed frames at the Port on February 27 and retrieved six duffle bags which had been packed with the narcotics.
The container which originated in China passed through Jamaica and was in transit in Russia when the discovery was made.
The container was off-loaded early on Friday, and was scheduled to be collected within four days to be taken to its final destination to a company in Suriname which distributes household furniture and other items.
Senior customs officials revealed that upon inspection in Russia, officers discovered that the seal on the container had been duplicated and was identical to a seal placed on another container.
Claiming that it was a “high probability” that the “rip-off” occurred in Russia, customs officials said that was not the first time that that scenario had taken place.
Unwilling to point any fingers or to reveal their primary suspects, officials warned that surveillance and security at all points had been increased.
