KRASNOYARSK, December 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s Federal Security Service has shut down an illegal operation that smuggled gold from Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region to the North Caucasus, seizing over six kilograms of the precious metal worth over $350,000 at current prices, the FSB said on Tuesday.
FSB agents detained six suspects with about $170,000 in cash, the FSB said without specifying the date.
The gold was transported to Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, where it was melted down and used to make jewelry. The operation produced the gold items without license and paid no taxes.
The illegal operation continued for several years, the FSB said.
The detainees face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
