Searches and seizures continue(314 words)

Published: 3/8/2001

Reports indicate that the FSB searched the offices of East Line last week and found large quantities of illegally imported goods. The FSB is apparently processing the seized cargo and continuing its investigations. The most recent action however, is reported to have cost the airline more than 50 flights in the first week, as customers have taken their business elsewhere. The seizures follow a number of searches of the airline, the most recent closing down East Line in the latter part of 2000. This was after earlier seizures of illegally imported goods at Kogalym Airport in May 2000. Flights have recently been restored to China, Turkey and the UAE, but the management of the airline has been reported as asking how it takes 8 months to investigate a case of importation of contraband? The airline has claimed that in both cases it had no knowledge of the goods, with the aircraft (Il-76s on both occasions) having been loaded by its local agents or customers. It has also claimed that the authorities have not so far shown any evidence of East Line's involvement in such activities. Furthermore, under Russian law the carrier is not responsible for the clearance of cargoes; this rests with the cargo's owner. The FSB has confirmed that it is investigating East Line and three other cargo carriers (two from Russia and one from Iran). While accepting that problems with illegal importation do exist, the company maintains that it is being victimised and that the solution to the problem lies in better State regulation. According to Amirani Kurtanidze, General Director of Eats Line, the disruption to the company's activities has cost the airline $10m, a figure borne out by the 33% drop in volume, for 2000, to 40,000 tonnes - well short of the 75,000 target for the year.

Article ID: 2403