MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) - Russian military
officials tried to smuggle 30 anti-submarine missiles and 200
aviation bombs via Tajikistan to China under the guise of
nonferrous metal deliveries, a law enforcement source said on
Friday.
Russia's chief military prosecutor said in late February
that a criminal investigation had been launched against a group
of Russian Navy officials and a number of businessmen suspected
of attempting to smuggle naval munitions worth a total of $18
million to Tajikistan for sale to China.
"According to investigators, all the munitions were
transported by rail and listed in customs declarations as
non-ferrous scrap metal," the source said.
Some media reports earlier said high-ranking Navy
officials, including vice admirals and rear admirals, may have
been involved in the scheme.
Under the scheme, the munitions were reportedly
'destroyed' and a commercial firm received over 1.6 million
rubles ($45,000) from the federal budget for the work. In
reality, the bombs and missiles were prepared for sale and
smuggled abroad, the source said.
Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said the smuggling operation
was prevented by "the Navy, in conjunction with the Chief
Military Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Security Service
(FSB)."
Police and military investigators have also launched a
wave of probes at various ammunition storage facilities in
Russia to uncover other possible cases of arms smuggling.
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