Russia

FSB Thwarts Smuggling of Explosives Hidden in Church Icons From Ukraine to Russia via EU

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday that the agency was able to thwart the smuggling of explosives concealed in church icons from Ukraine to Russia via territory of several European countries.
Sputnik
“The Russian Federal Security Service, together with the Federal Customs Service of Russia, has halted a cross-border smuggling channel for the delivery of explosives to the country from Ukraine in transit through the countries of the European Union,” the FSB said in a statement.
According to the agency, a foreign-made explosive was found hidden in Orthodox icons and church supplies during a vehicle inspection at a border checkpoint in Russia’s Pskov Region.
The individual “involved in committing the crime has been detained,” the FSB said.
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"All individuals involved in organizing or assisting in the crime, including foreign citizens, will be put on a wanted list and prosecuted in accordance with Russian law," the statement read.
The FSB reported that a total of 27 homemade explosives hidden inside church items were discovered in cargo along the Ukraine-Romania-Hungary-Slovakia-Poland-Lithuania-Latvia-Russia route.
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