Moscow — Russian investigators intercepted a massive meteorite fragment intended for export to Britain disguised as a garden ornament, according to a statement from the Federal Customs Service released on Thursday.
The specimen weighed approximately 2.8 tons and was believed to originate from the Aletai meteorite, one of Earth’s largest known iron meteorites. Prosecutors initiated a criminal investigation into the incident.
The fragment, which could be worth about 323 million rubles ($4.2 million), was discovered during customs checks at Saint Petersburg port. When attempting export, it had been declared as a garden sculpture but revealed discrepancies in its origin and value compared to what had been stated.
Customs officials described how they pried open a crate revealing the rock’s grey and rugged surface upon inspection. The statement did not specify who attempted the importation, only that it was destined for the United Kingdom.
Scientists have raised ethical concerns regarding the commercialization of meteorites, citing their significance in understanding early solar system composition through research.
The Aletai meteorite, discovered in western China in 1898, is estimated to be at least 4.5 billion years old. Its exact landing date remains uncertain but such events are not uncommon.
Similarly notable was a meteorite that penetrated the roof of a home in Georgia last year during daylight hours, creating widespread interest among witnesses who observed it as a blazing fireball across the sky.
The Aletai meteorite and its American counterpart demonstrate how these celestial objects can cause significant impacts even today.