Citizen of Uzbekistan who tried to import harmel into Russia can be sentenced to life imprisonment

Russian customs officials found more than one ton of harmel in a container that arrived from Uzbekistan to the Novorossiysk port. Later, it was supposed to be sent on a cargo ship to one of the countries of the Middle East, the TV channel “Kuban 24” reported.

In addition to harmel, the container also contained dried fruits, briar, dishes and linseed oil.

“During the customs inspection, we took samples of the dried plant for further research. Expertise showed that the composition of the perennial herb “harmel” contains the narcotic substance “harmine”, which is included in the list of controlled narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors in the Russian Federation,” Vadim Pronin, head of the Novorossiysk customs post, said.

A criminal case has been initiated on the fact of smuggling. The person who sent the cargo can be sentenced to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of up to one million rubles.