LONDON -- I don't suppose you read the piece in the Russian newspapers about customs officials' activities in the Russian Far East, at the Poltvaka customs checkpoint in Oktyabrsky County in southern Primorski krai on the Chinese border? It was a very interesting article about how a truck, which had crossed the border, had been found to be carrying some contraband flowers.
The contraband consisted of too many roses and some boxes containing orchids, chrysanthemums, carnations and lilies instead of cheap decorative greenery for use in bouquets. Amazing!
What was amazing was that the truck was stopped and its contents reported to the newspapers. In such situations a small fee from the driver would normally have ensured that it went across the border without any problem. The point of this press release was to tell readers that the world has changed.