For over ten days, around ten trucks bearing Dagestani and Azerbaijani license plates have been unable to leave the Astara cargo terminal on the Iran-Azerbaijan border. According to RIA Dagestan, the issue stems from a shipment of peppers grown in Armenia that was being imported into Russia disguised as Iranian produce.

The Dagestan Ministry of Transport described the situation as a re-export scheme: the Armenian goods were reportedly accompanied by forged documents processed through Iranian intermediaries.

The plan was for the cargo to clear customs as Iranian-origin produce. While the circumstances are being investigated, the drivers have remained at the parking area for ten days. During this time, some of the vegetables have begun to spoil as their shelf life nears its end. Carriers have proposed unloading the goods to salvage at least part of the shipment, but the intermediaries are reportedly insisting that transport continue without opening the trucks.

The Dagestan Regional Public Organization of Motor Carriers has stepped in to address the situation. It intends to appeal to the Iranian Ministry of Justice for clarification on the cargo's legal status and to seek compensation for the drivers for the days of downtime.

The Dagestan Ministry of Transport stated that carriers should not accept cargo with questionable documentation, given that the import of Armenian agricultural products into Russia is prohibited. The agency also urged market participants to thoroughly verify accompanying documents to avoid such situations, which lead to financial losses and the spoilage of perishable goods.