RUSSIA THE GOLD RUSH THE SOVIET UNION BOASTS SOME OF THE TIGHTEST 
BORDER CONTROLS IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY ARE NOT TIGHT ENOUGH 
TO HOLD BACK A THRIVING NETWORK OF RUSSIAN DEALERS IN CONTRABAND 
CURRENCY THAT STRETCHES FROM PEKING TO PARIS AND POINTS BEYOND . 
LAST WEEK A KAZAKHSTAN FACTORY OWNER WENT ON TRIAL IN ALMA 
ATA AFTER HE WAS NABBED WEARING A MONEY BELT CRAMMED NOT 
ONLY WITH RUBLES BUT ALSO WITH FRENCH FRANCS AND U.S . 
DOLLARS . IN HIS HOME WERE THREE OUNCES OF PEARLS, 2,700 
ANTELOPE HORNS, WHICH THE CHINESE PRIZE FOR THEIR SUPPOSED MEDICINAL QUALITIES, 
AND 22 LBS . OF GOLD, WHICH HE PLANNED TO EXPORT 
TO ACCOMPLICES IN COMMUNIST CHINA . USING A MINE DETECTOR, COPS 
FOUND ANOTHER CACHE OF GOLD BURIED IN THE GUTTER IN FRONT 
OF THE SMUGGLER'S HOUSE . LAST MONTH ANOTHER RING OF PROSPERING 
FOREIGN TRADERS WAS BROKEN UP IN THE MOSLEM SOVIET REPUBLIC OF 
UZBEKISTAN . ALAS, A RAILROAD POLICEMAN WAS STANDING ON THE PLATFORM 
OF TASHKENT'S STATION WHEN COINS CLINKED AT THE FEET OF AN 
ELDERLY BEGGAR . STOOPING TO INVESTIGATE, THE COP DISCOVERED THAT THE 
COINS WERE SOLID GOLD AND BORE THE FACE OF CZAR NICHOLAS 
II . THE GAME WAS UP . SEWN INTO THE BEGGAR'S 
RAGS WERE HUNDREDS OF COINS, PEARLS AND PRECIOUS STONES . THE 
TRAIL LED TO FOUR OTHER GANG MEMBERS, WHOSE ILLICIT INVENTORY INCLUDED 
400 LBS . OF PRECIOUS ANILINE DYES, 220 YARDS OF SATIN, 
$200 IN BRITISH POUNDS, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RUBLES IN 
STATE LOAN CERTIFICATES, RUBIES, COINS AND MEDALS . A CROOK NAMED 
" BLUE EYES " WAS ALL SET TO HAUL THE SWAG 
OUT BY CAR TO AFGHANISTAN . THE GANG HAD HOPED TO 
USE THE PROFITS TO FINANCE A PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA . INSTEAD, 
THEY ALL LANDED IN A TASHKENT JAIL, SENTENCED TO TERMS OF 
10 TO 15 YEARS . 