A shipment declared for distant markets allegedly followed a different route, bringing two eastern Finnish companies under scrutiny and raising serious questions.
Finnish Customs is investigating the illegal supply to Russia of goods subject to European Union sanctions. The total value of the products exported in 2022–2023 amounted to nearly €6 million.
This is reported by the media outlet Yle.
According to investigators, representatives of two companies from eastern Finland may have been involved in the scheme. One was engaged in exports, while the other provided storage for the goods.
When completing the export documentation, the exporter stated that the products were being shipped to Kazakhstan and Turkey. However, a preliminary investigation showed that the goods were ultimately forwarded to Russia.
What goods may have been illegally exported to Russia
The products involved in the case included:
hydraulic pumps;
engines;
valves.
The export of such goods to Russia has been prohibited under European Union sanctions regulations since July 2022. Finnish Customs suspects two people of violating the sanctions regime.
The preliminary investigation is nearing completion. The case materials are expected to be handed over to the Eastern Finland Prosecutor’s Office by the end of the year.
Other sanctions-related cases
One of the suspects is also involved in four other proceedings concerning sanctions violations. They are being considered by the South Karelia District Court.
In one of the previous proceedings, the owner of the company “Idän Liikenteenvälitys IL Oy” from Lappeenranta was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. The court found him guilty of a serious violation of the sanctions regime imposed against Russia.
