In the port of St. Petersburg, customs officials prevented an attempt to illegally export a rare cosmic object. The meteorite, weighing over 2 tons, was being sent out of the country disguised as garden decor, as reported by Russian media.
The criminals secured the meteorite on a metal stand and concealed it within wooden panels. However, inspectors suspected something was amiss during the cargo inspection. As a result of the check, the cosmic object was seized and sent for examination.
Experts from the Central Expert and Forensic Management determined that the meteorite is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Named "Aletai," this meteorite holds invaluable historical and scientific significance.
According to experts, the market value of the find is estimated at 323 million rubles.
The meteorite "Aletai" is named after the location where it first fell — in the northern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Currently, law enforcement agencies are trying to determine how this giant fragment ended up in Russia and who was behind the attempt to export it.
