Nakhodka Customs Officers Seize 14 Tons of Ephedra

VLADIVOSTOK. October 22. VOSTOK-MEDIA – Hakhodka Police is investigating the trafficking 14 tons of psychotropic herbal substance through Russian border.

When Nakhodka Customs officers searched a freight container that was shipped from Kyrgyzstan to South Korea they found bags of vegetable matter which gave off a characteristic smell.

The examination of the matter showed that the bags contained the ephedra herb, a psychoactive substance which is basically unrefined ephedrine. The ephedra herb is banned in Russia.

A spokesman for the Far Eastern Customs Service said the bags contained a total of 14 tons of the psychoactive substance, which is worth over 75 million rubles ($2,24m).

The cargo owners may now face 3 to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million rubles ($32,500)
Nakhodka Customs handed the case over to the local transport police department for follow-up investigation, officials said.