Poland seizes record contraband amber haul

WARSAW: Polish customs said Wednesday they had seized a record 1.5 tonnes of amber on the border with Ukraine, with some stones "the size of an ostrich egg".
The amber, worth an estimated €6 million (RM27.65 million), was found carefully wrapped and stashed among legal merchandise in a Polish lorry consignment.
Some of the haul was uncut but authorities also uncovered stones "the size of an ostrich egg," they said.
They added the Polish driver and his Ukrainian co-driver had been arrested but both denied smuggling.
Both countries last year agreed to exchange information on amber smuggling.
Amber has been highly valued as a gemstone since prehistoric times and is also used as an ingredient in perfume. — AFP