World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Passenger carrying $39,100 detained at Novosibirsk airport
At Tolmachevo airport in Novosibirsk, customs officers found $39,100 in the bag of a foreign passenger bound for Dushanbe.
The man said he planned to use the money to buy a car abroad.
A customs dog helped draw officers’ attention to his hand luggage during a passenger check.
Russia has temporarily banned taking more than $10,000 in foreign cash out of the country since March 2022, even if the money is declared.
Customs officials said the passenger knew about the restrictions, and opened a criminal case for suspected cash smuggling.
The case is under Article 200.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code; the published account gives no court decision.
Tolmachevo opened five criminal cases over currency smuggling in the third quarter of 2026, but that figure applies only to the airport.
Customs officers at Tolmachevo airport in Novosibirsk found $39,100 in cash with a foreign passenger bound for Dushanbe.
The passenger said he planned to use the money to buy a car abroad.
Authorities said he knew about restrictions on taking cash out of Russia and attempted to pass through without declaring it.
Novosibirsk customs opened a criminal case under Article 200.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code.
- Who
- A foreign passenger; Life.ru identifies him as 35 years old.
- What
- Customs found $39,100 in his hand luggage and opened a criminal case over alleged cash smuggling.
- When
- Reported on October 14, 2026; the incident date is not stated.
- Where
- Tolmachevo airport in Novosibirsk, Russia.
- Why
- He said he intended to buy a car abroad. Customs said he knew about restrictions on taking cash out of Russia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russia temporarily banned taking more than $10,000 in foreign cash out of the country, according to Life.ru.
Björn, the customs fox terrier, helped find $9,900 and more than 500,000 rubles in a passenger’s luggage.
Björn found more than $13,000 with another foreign passenger.
Reports said customs at Tolmachevo found $39,100 with a passenger bound for Dushanbe and opened a criminal case.
- Cash found
- $39,100
- Airport
- Tolmachevo, Novosibirsk
- Destination
- Dushanbe
- Passenger’s stated purpose
- Buying a car abroad
- Criminal case
- Article 200.1, Part 1 of Russia’s Criminal Code