Russia on Wednesday seized 40 tonnes of European cheeses smuggled into the country in breach of an embargo on EU food imports, the customs service said.

Moscow in 2014 banned wholesale imports from the European Union of most types of fresh foods in response to EU sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine including the annexation of Crimea
Moscow in 2014 banned wholesale imports from the European Union of most types of fresh foods in response to EU sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine including the annexation of Crimea AFP / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV

The cheese was found at a port near the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg in four containers labelled as a component used to produce rubber.

The shipment included Dorblu blue cheese and Italian hard cheeses such as Grana Padano, the customs service said.

This handout picture released on May 27, 2020 by the Federal Customs Service of Russia shows European-made cheeses seized at the Bronka customs post by Baltic customs in Saint Petersburg
This handout picture released on May 27, 2020 by the Federal Customs Service of Russia shows European-made cheeses seized at the Bronka customs post by Baltic customs in Saint Petersburg Federal Customs Service of Russia / -

It published a video of a sniffer dog eagerly running up to piles of boxes, with an officer opening them to reveal round packaged cheeses.

The containers also contained instant coffee, chocolate biscuits and washing-up liquid, pictures showed.

The shipment included Dorblu blue cheese and Italian hard cheeses such as Grana Padano, the customs service said
The shipment included Dorblu blue cheese and Italian hard cheeses such as Grana Padano, the customs service said Federal Customs Service of Russia / -

Russia in 2014 banned wholesale imports from the European Union of most types of fresh foods.

This was in response to EU sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine including the annexation of Crimea.

The customs operation also involved FSB security services, the customs service said in a statement.

They are now searching for those behind the smuggling operation.

Russia's dairy association has said that the domestic cheese-making industry grew by a third between 2013 and 2018, helped by the lack of competition from European companies.

However the quality of mass-produced Russian cheese is often low, while artisanal cheese is very expensive.

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