[meteorite-list] Customs Officials Confiscate Meteorite in Russia

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri May 21 11:37:29 2004
Message-ID: <200405211537.IAA00381_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

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.
Received on Fri 21 May 2004 11:37:18 AM PDT