Lithuania uncovers goods smuggling scheme to Russia worth almost €2 mln

The total value of the alleged smuggled goods is almost €2 million.

According to preliminary data, a group of five Lithuanian citizens, acting on the instructions of Russian citizens, tried to circumvent international sanctions and export goods banned for import to Russia.

The group purchased the goods in question in the European Union from March 2022 to August 2024, using export declarations with false names and indicating in the documents the countries of destination, such as Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. The total value of the illegally exported goods exceeds €1.9 million.

As part of the investigation, 18 searches were conducted in the suspects' homes, cars, and business premises in Vilnius. Documents, mobile phones, computers, and servers with information about the suspects' activities were seized.

The suspects have been charged and their property has been temporarily seized. The prosecutor's office warns that violations of international sanctions and smuggling are punishable by severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment for up to eight years.

Earlier, Lithuania fined a company €13 million for violating sanctions against Russia.

EU sanctions against Russia

In March 2014, the European Union began to impose sanctions against Russia in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine. After February 24, 2022, in response to Russia's military aggression, the EU significantly expanded sanctions, adding many new individuals and entities to the blacklist and taking measures aimed at weakening the Russian economy and technology.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the EU has already imposed 14 sanctions packages against Russia.