Russian police arrest 10 Colombians with stolen jewels worth $1.4M

SAINT PETERSBURG—Russian police arrested 10 Colombian nationals who were attempting to smuggle stolen jewellery valued at $1.4 million out of the country, the transport police said Tuesday.

“Ten Colombians were detained after an operation by Moscow and Saint Petersburg police in Domodedovo airport’s customs,” transport police chief for the northwest region Vadim Kachirin said in a press release.

The criminals were carrying some of the jewelry in their luggage, while a female accomplice wore some on her body, the press release said.

The jewelry has a value of 43 million rubles ($1.4 million, 1.0 million euros) and belongs to several Russian companies that were planning to display the pieces at an international exhibition in March. It was stolen earlier this month.