11.   The problem was complicated by Russian customs officials who for still-unexplained reasons held up U.S. equipment needed to reconfigure the Mir for docking with the shuttle.

12.   The United States also plans to give the Russian customs service three X-ray detection vans for use at its borders.

13.   Would I leave for the airport without observing the Russian custom of sitting quietly before a trip?

14.   Previously, a top Chechen official had said Chechnya would not allow Russian customs officials to carry out inspections in Grozny.

15.   A group of Russian customs officials left for Grozny early Wednesday, and Rybkin voiced hope the plane will leave later in the day.

16.   After landing, Arsanov vowed he would never pass through Russian customs.

17.   He fired the head of the Russian customs service, and told Kiriyenko to find a successor.

18.   His impending arrival was confirmed only the day before by a Russian customs official, while the Kremlin and Foreign Ministry said they had no information on any trip.

19.   However, there has been discord over Russian customs taxes on Ukrainian goods.

20.   In another recent case, Russian customs officials stopped a German man as he was leaving the country.