Woman caught at Narva border with sanctioned frying pan and hidden bracelet
Estonian customs officers at the Narva border crossing found a sanctioned aluminium frying pan and a roughly €1,500 bracelet hidden on a Finnish woman's toe as she headed to Russia; she was fined €560.
On 11 August, officers of Estonia's Tax and Customs Board checked a 39-year-old Finnish citizen at the Narva border crossing as she was traveling to Russia. It was her second trip to Russia this year, and she declared nothing at customs.
In her luggage, officers found a new aluminium frying pan whose export to Russia is banned under sanctions. The woman said she had intended it as a gift and claimed she was unaware of the restrictions.
Empty box and a bracelet on her toe
Customs officers also found an empty jewelry box with a certificate of authenticity in her handbag. She initially said friends had bought a bracelet and asked her to carry only the packaging to Russia. Before a further inspection, however, she admitted that the bracelet itself was on her big toe.
The item was a Messika Paris bracelet worth about €1,500, which falls into the luxury goods category also banned from export to Russia under sanctions.
The woman was fined €560 and returned to Estonia along with the goods.
