For the purchase of what goods from abroad you can end up in jail

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A flash drive or a pen with a built-in voice recorder can be taken to court. And this is not a joke.

What cannot be ordered and sent by mail

Let's start with things that might be obvious to some. All of the following is governed by the rules of the post office.

1. Chemicals, psychotropic and poisonous substances

In 2016, a scientist from the Krasnodar Territory ordered gamma-butyrolactone from China. A drug from the list of psychotropic drugs, he was going to use to create a prototype solar battery. As a result, a criminal case was opened against the inventor, the court was limited to a suspended sentence.

2. Flammable and explosive substances

This list includes lighters, gasoline, charcoal, fireworks and sparklers, aerosols (such as air freshener or hairspray), perfumes, colognes, and even nail polishes. Yes, there are people who constantly buy varnishes and perfumes on AliExpress, but the fact remains: sooner or later they may face problems.

3. Weapons and tools for the extraction of animal resources

It is forbidden to send any weapon to Russia. This even applies to a bow with arrows or a sword for reconstructing historical battles. In the same list there are cartridges, hunting knives.

At the same time, there are no problems with buying kitchen knives abroad. It is worth reading about the difference between an ordinary knife and edged weapons, for example, here.

As for the tools for the extraction of animal resources: you can order ordinary fishing rods abroad, but electronic and fishing nets with a thread diameter of less than 0.5 mm and a mesh size of less than 100 mm are not allowed.

4. Drinks, alcohol and perishable food

This, by the way, also applies to plant seeds. There was a funny incident on Sakhalin: in one of the letters, a white loose substance was found, the police were called, and the office was cordoned off. But no "anthrax" - there was only salt in the letter. In any case, keep in mind: the content of the letters is treated carefully.

5. Fake branded items, counterfeit

Of course, sometimes it is difficult to prove the fact of a fake, but in the customs legislation there is a concept of confusingly similarity. For example, the design is one-to-one, the logo is the same or slightly modified. Such goods are most often simply sent back, but they can also start a criminal case.

Keep in mind: not only counterfeits, but also illegally imported branded goods are considered counterfeit. Remember the Xiaomi scandal, when the official supplier asked the customs to cut off the import of all smartphones bought in Chinese stores? Then he changed his mind, but, as you can see, there are levers of pressure.

6. Devices not certified in Russia

All gadgets equipped with Wi-Fi must be notified by the FSB. This is a special permit for the import of equipment with encryption modules (and data transmission is encrypted by definition).

Notification is issued for each specific model. Such permission is available for most smartphones and tablets from well-known brands, but with little-known brands, noname-toys controlled via Wi-Fi, walkie-talkies, baby monitors, wireless mice, and others, problems may arise.

In 2014, a resident of the Ulyanovsk region bought a Moto G smartphone in Germany, which was not certified in Russia. There was no FSB notification, so the customs opened an administrative case against the man.

7. Gadgets for the hidden recording of information

This is the most interesting topic worth considering in more detail. We are talking about special technical means designed to secretly obtain information:

• hidden audio and video recording,
• eavesdropping on telephone conversations,
• secret control of postal correspondence,
• covert penetration and covert examination of premises, vehicles and other objects,
• hidden identification of a person,
• secret movement control,
• secretly obtaining information from technical means.

This list may include such things as, for example, a children's watch-tracker with GPS, a toy with a built-in camera, geotags for luggage. We are talking about the simplest gadgets that may seem like toys or a fun gift idea.

How to understand that the device is designed to secretly obtain information

The customs and police will be guided by whether the device has hidden functions of audio, video recording, tracking. For example, glasses look like ordinary glasses, the lens and control buttons are hidden, there is no recording indicator.

For comparison, sports action glasses. The lens is noticeable, large - they will not be considered a special means.

How parcels are inspected

Most of the customs control points operate X-ray machines, they scan each box in an automatic mode. If there is something suspicious, then the parcel will be opened and checked by employees.

By the way, some craftsmen specifically ask Chinese sellers to send them goods for spare parts. For example, a "spy" pen assembly is a special tool, but a separate body and a separate cap with a camera are not.

What is the penalty for ordering "spy" devices?

The legislation provides for criminal and administrative liability for the purchase of prohibited gadgets. According to article 138.1 of the Criminal Code, you can get:

• a fine of up to 200,000 rubles,
• restriction of freedom up to 4 years (or forced labor),
• imprisonment for up to 4 years without the right to hold certain positions.

The Code of Administrative Offenses in Article 20.23 is more "kind" and promises a fine of up to 5,000 rubles for the acquisition, storage or use of special means of secret information retrieval.

How the law works in practice

All these are not groundless horror stories, there are many precedents of clashes with the law.

A couple of years ago, a pensioner from Kurgan ordered glasses with a built-in camera in China. And all would be fine, but then the man decided to sell them on Avito. The announcement was found by FSB officers, the man was accused of illegal trafficking in special technical equipment, the court gave him eight months probation. And this year, an almost identical story happened.

Another Russian didn't even sell anything, but last summer he was fined 10,000 rubles for ordering a GPS tracker with a built-in microphone from AliExpress. And he still got off easy, because a friend in misfortune could be prosecuted for the same reason.

Another example: a resident of Orel was tried for buying a compact in China. The gadget cost $ 10, and the fine for breaking the law was 35,000 rubles.

And a woman from Makhachkala last year was fined 10,000 rubles for purchasing a penny flash drive with a dictaphone in China. She did not even suspect that the gadget had advanced functions, since she did not read the description (according to her). But ignorance does not exempt from responsibility.

In April 2018, a pensioner from the Perm Territory was convicted for ordering "spy" glasses.

“Criminal intent aimed at the illegal acquisition of a special technical device,” as stated in the court decisions, in reality for many people was the result of curiosity (to try an unusual gadget) or a desire to protect their homes, personal belongings, children (if we are talking about trackers and motion sensors). But the consequences were sad.