March 4, 2015. This year’s first cash smuggling attempt was prevented at Koltsovo Airport of Yekaterinburg, Koltsovo Customs’ press service reports.

‘A Russian citizen flying from Yekaterinburg to Bangkok had over $23,000 (1.483m RUR) worth of cash in his carry-on luggage which he tried to take across the Customs Union border. This is classed as a large-scale smuggling attempt, with charges based on Article 200.1 (Part 1) of the Russian Federation Criminal Code,’ the press service says.

Last year, Koltsovo Customs prevented three similar attempts, the total amount of cash being over $126,000.