A group of infiltrators caused tourists to be detained at the border with China in Primorye Territory

Russian tourists returning from China were delayed for several hours at the customs in Primorye because of a group of debauchees who blocked the exit from the control zone and insulted inspectors. This was reported on December 28 by Irina Kulchitskaya, spokeswoman for Ussuriysk customs.

She said that a group of Russians arrived at the border checkpoint Pogranichny from China on December 26. Customs officers during the inspection found a number of violations among the tourists.

"Certain citizens began to publicly express their displeasure at the lawful actions of customs inspectors, insulting them, demonstratively delaying the completion of customs control," Kulchitskaya told RIA Novosti.

These people refused to obey the inspectors and blocked the exit from the control zone. For three hours, the flow of tourists slowed down and then stopped altogether. Customs officers were only able to complete the control when the police arrived at the checkpoint.

Because of the actions of the violators, other returning Russians were able to pass customs control only after midnight (17:00 Moscow time). The inspectors, too, had to extend their working day beyond the established schedule. The total delay amounted to about 10 hours, reports "Gazeta.Ru".

Criminal cases may be initiated after undue interference of the debauchees in the work of the checkpoint and insulting customs officers as representatives of the authorities. Kulchitskaya noted that there are now proceedings on four cases of administrative violations. They concern, among other things, the fact that 29 people could not explain the purpose of the goods they imported, and the customs authority detained these things.

The spokeswoman added that Ussuriysk customs officers have prepared for the fact that the flow of Russian tourists to China will increase on the eve of the New Year holidays. The number of inspectors in shifts has been increased. In addition, travelers were asked not to carry goods that do not belong to them, so as not to create problem situations, and heads of tourist groups - to distribute tourists between checkpoints Poltavka and Pogranichny evenly.

Earlier, on December 21, tourists of a delayed flight from Moscow to Sharm el-Sheikh were stuck at Sheremetyevo airport. People were in the waiting room of the air harbor for more than a day. One of the passengers named Timofey told Izvestia that the reason for the delay in departure was probably the breakdown of the airplane. The original departure time of the flight was scheduled for 5:50 Moscow time on December 20, but it actually departed only on December 22 at 8:39 Moscow time.