Poles seize record haul of amber
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
16.03.2016 16:03
Polish customs officers say they have seized a record illegal shipment of amber worth millions at a border crossing with Ukraine.
Piece of amber seized at the Dorohusk crossing between Poland and Ukraine. Photo: PAP/Służba Celna (Customs Service)
Officers uncovered gemstones weighing nearly 1.5 tonnes and worth around PLN 24 million (EUR 5.6 million, USD 6.2 million) at the Dorohusk crossing in eastern Poland. The precious cargo was hidden on a Polish truck arriving from Ukraine.
"This is the largest ever illegal shipment of amber across the Polish border," said Marzena Siemieniuk, a spokeswoman for the Customs Office in Biała Podlaska, eastern Poland.
"The vast majority of this was rough stones – ranging from small items to pieces the size of an ostrich egg," she added.
The Polish driver of the lorry and a Ukrainian helper have not admitted to smuggling, Siemieniuk said. (pk)
Source: PAP