Increase in Amber Smuggling between Russia and Poland

(IDEX Online News) – The amount of amber being smuggled between Russia and Poland has more than doubled so far this year compared to 2013. According to Polish customs officials, some 280 kilograms of amber have been since the start of the year.

Amber smuggling has been on the increase since 2012 when only 30 kilograms of the precious stone were found by customs. This number increased to 140 kilograms in 2013, according to reports in the Polish media.

According to thenews.pl, the increase is due to a decision by Russian authorities to ban the export of amber in October 2013. This action has spurred people on to find ever more innovative ways of smuggling the material out of Russia.

“We usually find amber in sophisticated hiding places, for instance wrapped in special film and hidden in the petrol tank, in gas bottles or in tailor-made vehicle compartments,” Polish Customs press spokesman Ryszard Chudy told the PAP news agency, as reported by thenews.pl.

The price of amber is rising as a result of the Russian export ban. The action of the Russian government has had such a profound effect on prices because its main source of amber – the Kaliningrad oblast – is believed to have the largest amber deposits in the world, estimated at 80 percent of the global total.

“Prices are rising,” thenews.pl quoted Chudy as saying. “Two or three years ago, we would sell amber for half the price it goes for now, while five years ago the price was five times lower.”

A recent sale of 47 kilograms of amber seized by customs sold for 156,000 zloty (approximately $49,448). Five years ago, Chudy said 180 kilograms of amber sold for 15,000 zloty, or somewhere in the region of $4,538.