Luggage inspection ends in disaster: Hidden coral skeletons cause trouble for tourist

Importing coral fragments into Russia without official permits is prohibited. Customs officers at Krasnoyarsk Airport recently seized 55 fragments of protected corals from a passenger arriving from Sanya, China. The items, weighing 176 grams, were hidden in the traveler's luggage. CITES Regulations and Coral Transport Many species of sea corals, including madrepores, are protected under the CITES convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Under these rules, moving such objects across international borders requires formal authorization documents. Yuliya Morozova, visa specialist: CITES requirements apply not only to living animals and plants but also to products made from them, including souvenirs, jewelry, and coral skeleton fragments found on the beach.