NOVOSIBIRSK, July 25 (RIA Novosti, Maxim Koshmarchuk) --
Officials at the Trans-Baikal (West Siberia) customs office seized a 19th-century violin carried by a Chinese woman on board a Moscow-Beijing train.
Siberia customs officials told RIA Novosti Monday that the violin, made in 1892, was discovered in a passenger's hand luggage during a routine customs inspection.
The Chinese woman did not possess any documents permitting her to carry the violin out of the country. She also did not mention the possession of the violin in her customs declaration.
Customs officials said that in 2004 the Trans-Baikal (West Siberia) customs service prevented the smuggling of 10 violins, dating from the 16-17th centuries, carried by a Chinese citizen.
