[meteorite-list] Customs Officials Confiscate Meteorite in Russia

[Ron Baalke]

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/05/21/meteorite.shtml

Customs Officials Confiscate Meteorite
Moscow News
May 21, 2004

In the airport of the Far East city of Khabarovsk, customs 
officials discovered a meteorite in a passenger's luggage, 
RIA Novosti reported Friday.

Experts of a territorial directorate on cultural valuables 
of the Khabarovsk district determined the extraterrestrial 
origin of the stone. It weighed about a kilo and consisted 
of cobalt, germanium, iron and other chemical elements. The 
experts estimated its value at more than 40,000 rubles 
(about $1,380).

A female citizen of Khabarovk was trying to transfer it to 
Japan. She may be forced to pay a fine anywhere in the region 
of 50 to 200 percent of the meteorite's value, the agency 
reported.