Anti-tank weapons, ammunition? Mass searches were conducted in Lithuania due to possible violations of sanctions against Russia.
In Vilnius, officers from the Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service, together with representatives from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), searched a logistics company whose name has not been disclosed and the homes of its executives. Money was seized, as well as potentially anti-tank weaponry and ammunition (an expert’s opinion on these items has yet to be determined).
The director, owner of the company, and three employees were questioned and are now under their own recognizance. A large amount of potentially rehabilitative goods valued at about 1.5 million euros was also seized. Two trucks were used to remove the goods, which are believed to have been intended for transport to Russia via Central Asian countries.
According to preliminary data, the company has circumvented sanctions prohibiting the export of sanctioned goods to Russia and Belarus. These goods were first exported to countries of Central Asia, mainly to the Kyrgyz Republic, and then illegally exported from there to Russia.
“Our analysts pay great attention to identifying companies that systematically violate sanctions by helping prohibited goods enter Russia illegally,” said Mantas Kaushilas, director of the Lithuanian customs criminal service.
