The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of five men in Schleswig-Holstein on suspicion of participating in a network that illegally supplied goods to Russia, violating the export ban imposed since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Investigations revealed that the suspects organized around 16,000 shipments worth at least €30 million, using a company based in Lübeck and a network of shell firms to conceal the destinations and bypass strict EU sanctions.
Authorities confirmed that the illegal exports targeted at least 24 Russian companies, including firms linked to the defense industry, making this case one of the most significant sanctions violations since February 2022.
Security measures included raids across several German states, and the five suspects were brought before an investigating judge to consider formal charges, which may include organized crime and violations of foreign trade laws.
The German Customs Criminal Office and the Federal Intelligence Service are also involved in the investigation to uncover the full scope of the network.
Sources - Agencies
