Finnish Customs announced that it was investigating a criminal case involving a company operating in Eastern Finland that was suspected of repeatedly exporting sanctioned electronics to Russia. The company attempted to export goods that had arrived in Finland via air through the company’s intermediary warehouse in Virolakhti and by road to Russia. These sanctioned goods were worth approximately 700 thousand euros.
“We have performed more than one hundred goods controls concerning exports by the suspected company. These exports have contained electronics subject to the sanctions against Russia, such as drones, processors, smartphones, computers and echo sounders, and their export value has been around 700 000 euros,” said Anna Kuparinen, investigator in charge.
During the investigation, it turned out that the goods were purchased mainly from American online stores. According to the preliminary investigation seven people were questioned as suspects. The suspects worked in managerial and forwarding positions at a company engaged in international cargo transportation.
“Every company engaged in international trade is, for its part, responsible for compliance with the sanctions and for ensuring that the sanctions have the appropriate effect, but if necessary, we can also assess the matter through our criminal investigation,” said Hannu Sinkkonen, Director of Enforcement.
At present, the Finnish Customs have initiated more than 800 investigations into crimes related to sanction violations, of which approximately 90 are serious crimes.
