Woman caught at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam with a bag containing 6 puppies she was smuggling from Armenia

 

Image: © NVWA  The little puppies in a bag. Poor little darlings

On Wednesday, November 5th, at Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and Customs prevented a woman from smuggling six puppies into the country. The woman had stuffed the young Pomeranians into her bag and intended to leave the airport that way. Thanks to vigilant customs officers, her plan was foiled. The puppies were quarantined at the suspect's expense. The NVWA has questioned the woman and will prepare a report. The suspect is expected to appear in court in early 2026.

Photo of a Pomeranian puppy not one of the 6 pups in the bag but as a example how cute these little dogs are. The huge price of 1400 euros for one puppy does not stop the popularity to buy a pup mostly from a dog breeding farm in Hungary. The conditions that the mother dog has to live in are mostly horrific. She gives birth, pups are taken away at 5 weeks old and then she is made pregnant again. Needless to say the puppies are not socialized and often anxious, fearful and in need of a lot of training and love, attention, to become a house pet. It's big business and smuggling is illegal but thriving 

The woman, who holds dual Hungarian and Russian citizenship, had begun her journey with the dogs in Armenia and arrived at Schiphol Airport on a flight from Athens. During the flight, three puppies were in a crate. The woman transported the other three puppies in her carry-on luggage. Once at Schiphol, she also put the dogs from the crate into her bag. She left the crate empty. At that point, Customs was already watching her. When the woman tried to leave the baggage claim area via the so-called "green channel," Customs checked her.

Before the judge

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) subsequently took over the case. An NVWA veterinarian and inspectors discovered that the information in the puppies' passports was likely incorrect. The woman also lacked the mandatory health certificates and serological tests. After questioning, she was allowed to continue her journey. 

Unfortunately she is probably back in Armenia by now and will not show up in court. As I wrote it s big business!!

The NVWA will file a report. The Public Prosecution Service will bring her to court in early 2026.Rabies occurs in Armenia. Therefore, it's important that dogs imported from that country are vaccinated against it. This isn't clear with these Pomeranians, as the information in their passports is likely incorrect. Therefore, the puppies have been quarantined at a qualified shelter.

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