Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Novorossiysk customs officers stopped an attempt to illegally move more than a ton of dried harmala containing a narcotic across the border. This was reported by the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation.

The plant was found by customs officers in a container that arrived by rail from Uzbekistan. It carried dried fruits, wild rose, dishes, linseed oil, and dried grass in the form of small sheaves. Further, the goods were to be sent by dry cargo ship to one of the countries of the Middle East.

During the customs inspection, the employees took samples of the dried plant for further research. The examination showed that the perennial herbaceous plant contains in its composition a narcotic drug - harmine, included in the List of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, subject to control in the Russian Federation and approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 30, 1998 No. 681 (List II ).

The total weight of the harmala was 1184.44 kg.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 1 of Art. 229.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors).