Customs officials in Russia's Far East have foiled two attempts to import a more than 100 tons of U.S. meat into the country, acts that would have been in violation of the government's food import ban, Interfax reported Wednesday.
Just under 25 tons of U.S. sausages was stopped at the far eastern port of Nakhodka, while in a separate incident, more than 78 tons of chicken meat from the U.S. was intercepted in nearby Vladivostok, the report said.
Both shipments were sent back to the U.S., the report said, citing the far eastern customs department.
The Kremlin earlier this month banned food imports from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis, including the U.S., the EU, Australia, Canada and Norway.
Meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables all come under the embargo.
The ban has already driven food prices up by between 5 and 20 percent for various food groups, according to the Economic Development Ministry.
