Agriculture Minister Backs Criminalization of Food Smuggling

Russia’s Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov has thrown his agency’s weight behind a proposal to imprison those bringing banned foods illegally into the country, making them liable to the same penalties as those who smuggle drugs or weapons.

“Why not?”Tkachyov told state-owned Rossiya 24 television in a broadcast Sunday afternoon. “Everywhere in the world, contraband [smugglers] are treated harshly, so if you have broken the rules, you will banned from entering the country for decades.”

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/agriculture-minister-backs-criminalization-of-food-smuggling/528518.html