Russian Customs authorities held a 51-year-old woman at an airport in Polyarny, Russia after her smelly luggage was found to contain a dead fish packed with large uncut diamonds.

Officials said the woman was stopped from boarding a flight to Moscow from Polyarny because of her smelly luggage.

Customs authorities inspected her bag and discovered a three-foot pike with 25 large uncut diamonds inside.

The police had started an investigation to determine the origin of the diamonds which they believed are stolen, and have called on experts to determine the value of the gems.

A spokesman for the police said, "The woman thought the stink from the fish would be enough to put guards off asking too many questions if she was stopped. Luckily, the guards were keen fishermen and didn't mind at all."