In a twist fit for a heist movie, a traveler’s attempt to smuggle a small fortune strapped to his leg ended in a metallic clang of handcuffs. The man, whose name might as well be "Unlucky Gambler," thought the green corridor at customs was his golden ticket—until officers decided he looked like someone who’d packed more than just socks.
Hidden in the folds of his trousers was a white bundle, innocuous as a handkerchief—except it contained a golden treasure: a wristwatch of 750-carat purity, gleaming like a tiny sun. Customs experts confirmed its authenticity, and the price tag of evasion—768,000 rubles in unpaid duties—left the man’s wallet lighter than his judgment.
The consequences? A criminal case for smuggling strategically significant goods, with penalties ranging from a million-ruble fine to a five-year stint behind bars. The irony? His timepiece could’ve bought him a lot of actual time—just not the kind spent in freedom.
Meanwhile, at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, another would-be contraband queen learned that bling and subtlety don’t mix. A woman arriving from Dubai had tucked away a king’s ransom in jewelry: rings, bracelets, earrings, and—adding insult to injury—another set of watches. Total value? A cool 5 million rubles, now evidence in a case that sparkles more than her confiscated haul.
