Russian customs officials have opened a criminal case after discovering a narcotic-containing plant in the luggage of a passenger arriving from Baku at Perm’s Bolshoye Savino Airport.
According to the Perm Customs Service, the traveler from Azerbaijan was detained after attempting to pass through the “green corridor,” thereby declaring he had no goods subject to inspection. Upon screening, officers found a 405-gram package of dried plant material in his bag.
Expert analysis identified the substance as Peganum harmala (known in Azerbaijan as uzerlik), a traditional herb often burned to ward off the evil eye. However, Russian law classifies its component harmine as a controlled narcotic substance.
“The man claimed the plant was purchased for personal use,” the customs service said. “Nonetheless, a criminal case has been initiated for large-scale drug smuggling.”
The incident highlights the difference in national regulations: while uzerlik is commonly sold and used for folk rituals in Azerbaijan, its active compound is banned under Russian narcotics law.
