Coordinated Action Targets Illegal Exports to Russia; Three Suspects Arrested

Coordinated Action Targets Illegal Exports to Russia; Three Suspects Arrested

(IN BRIEF) Eurojust and Europol supported a joint operation by Dutch, German, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Canadian authorities targeting alleged violations of export sanctions to Russia. During the operation, three suspects were apprehended, and 14 locations were searched as part of an investigation into the illegal export of technology and laboratory equipment that could be used for military purposes. The arrests are related to an international smuggling network, with the seizure of physical and digital records from a Dutch-registered enterprise involved in circumventing export bans to Russia. Eurojust facilitated cross-border judicial cooperation, while Europol provided analytical support and data cross-checks. The operation was conducted in response to EU-wide sanctions imposed following the Ukraine conflict.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 24-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Eurojust and Europol have supported a coordinated action of the Dutch, German, Latvian, Lithuanian and Canadian authorities against the alleged violation of export sanctions to Russia. During a joint action day, three suspects were arrested and 14 places searched in view of investigations into the illegal export of technological and laboratory equipment, which could be used for military purposes. Such exports are illegal due to the EU-wide sanctions, which were imposed after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

The arrested persons are suspected of being part of an international smuggling network. The physical and digital administration of a Dutch-registered enterprise has been seized, in addition to the enterprise’s bank account and communication tools.

Investigations into the case were initiated at the end of 2023 by the Dutch authorities and led to the uncovering of a web of enterprises, which were used to circumvent the ban on exports to Russia. These enterprises were centred around a Dutch-registered trading company, which was set up in 2017 for the import, export and sales of electro-technical and laboratory equipment, among other goods.

Two of the suspects were administrators of the main trading company. The third suspect is an employee of an external contractor, who is alleged to have been aware of the violation of the export ban. The trading company in question is now run by an administrator in Russia, who is also the sole shareholder.

Eurojust enabled the cross-border judicial cooperation and organised a coordination meeting to prepare for the joint actions, at request of the Dutch authorities. It also set up a coordination centre during the action day, which was held on 9 January.

Europol has been supporting the investigation by providing analytical support, as well as conducting cross-checks on the gathered data.

The actions were carried out at the request of and were supported by the following authorities:

• The Netherlands: National Prosecution Office for Serious Fraud, Environmental Crime and Asset Confiscation (Functioneel Parket); Investigation Service for Financial and Tax Crime (Fiscale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst, FIOD)
• Germany: Public Prosecutor`s Offices of Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Krefeld; Customs Investigation Service (ZFD) with offices in Berlin, Essen and Hamburg
• Latvia: Prosecutor General’s Office; State Security Service
• Lithuania: Vilnius Regional Public Prosecutor’s Office, Customs Criminal Service

Media Contact:

Eurojust Press Team
Phone: + 31 70 412 55 00
media@eurojust.europa.eu

SOURCE: EUROJUST