German arrested for smuggling gold into Russia faces five years in prison

A German man faces up to five years in prison after being arrested while trying to smuggle more than 90 million rubles ($982,500) worth of gold into Russia, according to local customs authorities in Pskov.

Customs officers and FSB officers stopped the 58-year-old man, who was transporting 13 kilos of gold bars in his camper van. Pskov is located about 20 kilometers from the Russian-Estonian border.

The German Foreign Ministry acknowledged the situation and confirmed that the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg was providing consular assistance. Criminal proceedings are underway and the man also faces a fine of up to 1 million rubles.

The detention of Western citizens, recently highlighted by prisoner exchanges between several countries, is becoming increasingly sensitive in the context of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. ($1 = 91.6000 rubles)

(With contributions from agencies.)